Bio-absorbable composite tissue scaffold
First Claim
1. A bio-compatible composition suitable for fabricating a non-migratory surgical article for the repair or replacement of ligament or tendon fibrous tissue of a human or non-human animal comprising a substrate of a plurality of carbon fibers completely enveloped by a bio-absorbable and bio-compatible polylactic acid polymer, wherein the longitudinal axes of said carbon fibers are oriented in substantially the same direction and wherein said fibers provide a scaffold which promotes the growth of new fibrous tissue which is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said carbon fibers.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises a bio-compatible composition suitable for constructing surgical articles for the repair or replacement of a part of the body of a human or non-human animal, e.g., ligaments, tendons, bones, comprising a composite of a bio-absorbable polymer and at least one substrate of a plurality of carbon fibers.
The invention also includes surgical articles fabricated from the composites for the repair of damaged tissue, e.g., tendons, ligaments and bones.
The invention includes a method for the formation of the aforesaid composite comprising providing a substrate of the carbon fibers and providing the substrate with a continuous coating of a bio-absorbable polymer.
The invention also includes the surgical repair of a damaged body part such as a ligament, tendon or bone comprising surgically affixing to the damaged part the surgical article, the bio-absorbable polymer being absorbed by the body upon formation of the new tissue.
112 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A bio-compatible composition suitable for fabricating a non-migratory surgical article for the repair or replacement of ligament or tendon fibrous tissue of a human or non-human animal comprising a substrate of a plurality of carbon fibers completely enveloped by a bio-absorbable and bio-compatible polylactic acid polymer, wherein the longitudinal axes of said carbon fibers are oriented in substantially the same direction and wherein said fibers provide a scaffold which promotes the growth of new fibrous tissue which is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said carbon fibers.
- 9. A bio-compatible non-migratory surgical article suitable for incorporation in the body of a human or non-human animal for the repair or replacement of ligament or tendon fibrous tissue thereof, said article constructed of a composite of at least one substrate of a plurality of carbon fibers completely enveloped by a bio-absorbable and bio-compatible polylactic acid polymer, wherein the longitudinal axes of said carbon fibers are oriented in substantially the same direction and wherein said fibers provide a scaffold which promotes the growth of new fibrous tissue which is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said carbon fibers.
Specification