Dermal micro-organs, methods and apparatuses for producing and using the same
First Claim
1. A dermal micro-organ comprising a plurality of dermal components which substantially retain the micro-architecture and three-dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of said dermal micro-organ and diffusion of cellular waste out of said cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in said dermal micro-organ.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide Dermal Micro-organs (DMOs), methods and apparatuses for producing the same. Some embodiments of the invention provide a DMO including a plurality of dermal components, which substantially retain the micro-architecture and three dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of the DMO and diffusion of cellular waste out of the cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in the DMO. Some embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for harvesting the DMO. An apparatus for harvesting the DMO may include, according to some exemplary embodiments, a support configuration to support a skin-related tissue structure from which the DMO is to be harvested, and a cutting tool able to separate the DMO from the skin-related tissue structure. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
47 Citations
65 Claims
- 1. A dermal micro-organ comprising a plurality of dermal components which substantially retain the micro-architecture and three-dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of said dermal micro-organ and diffusion of cellular waste out of said cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in said dermal micro-organ.
- 9. A genetically modified dermal micro-organ expressing at least one recombinant acne product, said dermal micro-organ comprising a plurality of dermal components which retain the micro-architecture and three-dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to enable passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of said dermal micro-organ and diffusion of cellular waste out of said cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in said dermal micro-organ, wherein at least some of said cells express at least a portion of at least one recombinant gene product.
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35. A method of determining the amount of a therapeutic dermal micro-organ to be implanted in a patient, the method comprising:
- determining a production and/or secretion level of a therapeutic agent by a quantity of the dermal micro-organ in vitro;
estimating a relationship between in vitro production and/or secretion and in vivo serum levels of the therapeutic agent; and
determining an amount of therapeutic dermal micro-organ to be implanted, based on the determined production and/or secretion level and the estimated relationship. - View Dependent Claims (65)
- determining a production and/or secretion level of a therapeutic agent by a quantity of the dermal micro-organ in vitro;
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36. A method of implanting a dermal therapeutic micro-organ at an implantation site comprising:
- inserting into said implantation site a carrier having said dermal therapeutic micro-organ aspirated therein;
withdrawing said carrier while holding said dermal therapeutic micro-organ in said implantation site.
- inserting into said implantation site a carrier having said dermal therapeutic micro-organ aspirated therein;
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38. A method of implanting a dermal therapeutic micro-organ at an implantation site comprising:
- inserting into said implantation site a carrier having said dermal therapeutic micro-organ aspirated therein;
applying pressure on the aspirated dermal therapeutic micro-organ such that said dermal therapeutic micro-organ exits from said carrier into said implantation site. - View Dependent Claims (39)
- inserting into said implantation site a carrier having said dermal therapeutic micro-organ aspirated therein;
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40. A method of adjusting the dosage of a therapeutic agent produced by a therapeutic dermal micro-organ implanted in a subject and excreting a therapeutic agent, comprising monitoring a level of therapeutic agent in the subject;
- and controlling the amount of therapeutic dermal micro-organ in the subject based on a comparison between said level of therapeutic agent and at least one threshold level.
- View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method of reducing the dosage of a therapeutic agent produced by a therapeutic dermal micro-organ implanted in a subject and excreting a therapeutic agent, comprising inactivating or removing a portion of said implanted therapeutic dermal micro-organ, wherein said inactivating or removing comprises surgically removing, killing, or ablating said portion.
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43. An apparatus for harvesting a dermal micro-organ, the apparatus comprising a support configuration to support a skin-related tissue structure from which said dermal micro-organ is to be harvested;
- and a cutting tool able to separate said dermal micro-organ from said skin-related tissue structure.
- View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method of harvesting a dermal micro-organ from a subject, comprising:
- supporting a skin-related tissue structure from which said dermal micro-organ is harvested; and
separating said dermal micro-organ from said skin-related tissue structure. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
- supporting a skin-related tissue structure from which said dermal micro-organ is harvested; and
Specification