Soft tissue devices and methods of use

• US 20030072741A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Berglund, Joseph D., Sambanis, Athanassios, Nerem, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/93.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/225 Fibrin; Fibrinogen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/227 Other specific proteins or polypeptides not covered by A61L27/222, A61L27/225 or A61L27/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/24 Collagen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3839 characterised by the site of application in the body materials for artificial blood vessels A61L27/507; materials for use in artificial skin A61L27/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/507 for artificial blood vessels apparatus for applying cells on a blood vessel prosthesis A61F2/062
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/54 Collagen; Gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/56 Fibrin; Thrombin
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0068 General culture methods using substrates for specific animal cell type C12N5/06
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/069 Vascular Endothelial cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5082 Supracellular entities, e.g. tissue, organisms

Abstract

The present invention is directed to devices for repair, replacement or augmentation of soft tissues in an organism. The devices comprise cellular compositions comprising cells and preferably, structural proteins such as collagen or elastin. The devices can also be used in methods for testing the effects of agents on soft tissues.

Claims

1. A soft tissue device, comprising, a cellular composition formed into a shape suitable for implantation.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a scaffold structure.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the scaffold structure is isolated from an organism.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the scaffold structure is a synthetic material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the cellular composition comprises structural proteins selected from the group consisting of collagen, fibrin and elastin.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cellular composition comprises altered or modified cells.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the cells and the scaffold structure are derived from the same species.

8. A method of repair of soft tissue, comprising, implanting a soft tissue device comprising a cellular composition formed into a shape suitable for implantation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the device further comprises a scaffold structure.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the scaffold structure is isolated from an organism.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the scaffold structure is a synthetic material.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the cellular composition comprises structural proteins selected from the group consisting of collagen, fibrin and elastin.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the cellular composition comprises altered or modified cells.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the cells and the scaffold structure are derived from the same species.

15. A method for determining activity of agents, comprising,

a) providing a soft tissue device comprising a cellular composition formed into a shape suitable for implantation,

b) adding at least one agent and

c) determining an effect on the soft tissue device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the device further comprises a scaffold structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the scaffold structure is isolated from an organism.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the scaffold structure is a synthetic material.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the cellular composition comprises structural proteins selected from the group consisting of collagen, fibrin and elastin.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the cellular composition comprises altered or modified cells.