Cultured tissue transplant device

• US 20070106394A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Chen
• Original Assignee: Paul Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,158,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.760
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3604 characterised by the human or animal origin of the biological material, e.g. hair, fascia, fish scales, silk, shellac, pericardium, pleura, renal tissue, amniotic membrane, parenchymal tissue, fetal tissue, muscle tissue, fat tissue, enamel
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3804 characterised by specific cells or progenitors thereof, e.g. fibroblasts, connective tissue cells, kidney cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3869 Epithelial tissues other than skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/005 Ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof

Abstract

A device for transplanting a graft such as a layer or layers of cultivated, autologous, allogenic or xenogenic cells to cover an accidental or surgical wound. The graft is cultivated and carried on a bed of collagen or other dissolvable or releasable material mounted on a protective substrate molded to conform to the profile of the wounded area and provided with a lateral attachment zone. The device facilitates the graft cultured in vitro to the recipient surface.

Claims

1. A live tissue transplant device which comprises:

a substrate having an active posterior face and an opposite anterior face;

said posterior face having a central active zone and a lateral attachment zone;

said active zone comprising;

a releasable support layer, and

a layer of cells cultured upon said device and spread over said support layers; and

said attachment zone comprising means for securing said substrate around a wound.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a sheet of material.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said attachment zone comprises a peripheral margin of said sheet.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said means for securing comprise at least one patch of adhesive material applied to said peripheral margin.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a molded body shaped and dimensioned to conform to the profile of said tissue.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said body defines a dome having a concave posterior face dimensioned to intimately mate with a section of a cornea.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said body has a channel cut in said posterior face, said channel being dimensioned to receive a filiform tissue.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said substrate comprises a slab of biocompatible material.

9. The device of claim 8 which further has fenestrations between said channel and said anterior face.

10. The device of claim 8 and a second device shaped and dimensioned as a mirror image thereof, wherein said devices are joined about their posterior faces to form a tunnel around a filiform tissue.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said channel is shaped and dimensioned to nest a nerve section.

12. The device of claim 1 which further comprises means for dissolving said support layer.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said support layer is taken from a group consisting essentially of collagen, amnionic membrane, cellulose, gelatin, and agarose.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein said adhesive material is taken from a group consisting essentially of fibrin and cyanoacrylate.

15. The device of claim 1 which further comprises at least one partition projecting from said posterior face and dividing said active zone into separate areas.

16. The device of claim 6, wherein said substrate is formed in the shape of an ophthalmic conformer.

17. The device of claim 6, wherein said substrate is formed in the shape of a contact lens.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein said substrate comprises adhesive patches astride said support layer.

19. The device of claim 17, which further comprises a peripheral skirt surrounding said support layer.

20. A method, for culturing, transplanting and securing a graft over a surgically or accidentally wounded area, which comprises:

procuring a first substrate having an outer face and an inner face, said inner face being shaped and dimensioned to conform to the shape of said area;

coating a portion of said inner face with a sheet of releasable biocompatible material;

culturing at least one layer of live tissue cells upon said sheet;

applying said substrate sheet and layer to said area; and

securing said substrate to said area.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said releasable layer is taken from a group consisting essentially of collagen, amnionic membrane, cellulose, gelatin and agarose.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said layer comprises epithelial cells, and said area consists of a cornea of a mammalian subject.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said substrate is molded in the shape of a contact lens.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said substrate is molded in the shape of an ophthalmic conformer.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said substrate is molded in the shape of an adhesive skin bandage.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said epithelial cells are autologous, allogenic or xenogenic to said subject.

27. The method of claim 20, which further comprises procuring a pair of said coated and layered substrates, one being a mirror image of the other, clamping said substrates together over a filiform tissue.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein said area consists of a cornea of mammalian subject and said layer comprises pumping cells selected from the group consisting of endothelial cells, kidney cells, gastric cells, intestinal cells and colon cells.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said pumping cells are autologous, allogenic or xenogenic to said subject.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein said layer comprises stem cells.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said stem cells are autologous, allogenic or xenogenic.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein said layer comprises cultured cartilage, bone, synovial, periostial, or marrow cells;

and said area consists of bone or connective tissue.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said live tissue cells are autologous, allogenic or xenogenic.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein said layer comprises cultured neuron or glial cells, and said area comprises neural tissue of a mammalian subject.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said live tissue cells are autologous, allogenic or xenogenic.

36. The method of claim 20, wherein said layer comprises epithelium, fibroblasts, or endothelium, and said area comprises skin of a mammalian subject.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said live tissue cells are autologous, allogenic or xenogenic.

38. The method of claim 20, wherein said layer comprises smooth muscle cells, striated muscle cells, or cardiac muscle cells, and said area comprises muscle of a mammalian subject.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said live tissue cells are autologous, allogenic or xenogenic.

40. The method of claim 20, wherein said layer comprises cardiac muscle cells, and said area comprises cardiac muscle of a mammalian subject.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said cardiac muscle cells are autologous, allogenic or xenogenic.