Cell encapsulating device containing a cell displacing core for maintaining cell viability
First Claim
1. An enclosable cell encapsulating device comprising:
- a) an outer permeable membrane wherein said permeable membrane allows for passage into said device of nutrients external to said device and wastes of cells and desirable cell products out of said device without permitting passage of cells therethrough;
b) a cell displacing core situated in said device so as to displace cells from a region centrally located in said device, said core being substantially cell free;
c) a cell zone capable of containing cells, said cell zone having a thickness extending from said permeable membrane to an outer boundary of said cell displacing core, said thickness being sufficiently narrow to support the viability of cells; and
d) a sealable opening for receiving cells, which when sealed forms a completely enclosed cell encapsulation device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cell encapsulating devices capable of maintaining large numbers of viable cells are provided containing an inert, substantially cell-free core that displaces cells, a permeable membrane and a zone for maintaining cells. The permeable membrane surrounds the core such that the zone of cells is bounded by the core and the permeable membrane. The cell zone may contain a support means for cell attachment and the core may have an outer boundary containing a material that promotes cell adhesion. Preferably, the cell zone has a thickness such that at least about 10% of the cells, more preferably at least about 50% or 80%, in a cell layer located closest to the outer boundary of the core remain viable. The thickness is preferably less than 500 microns such as 25 to 250 microns or 50 to 100 microns. The devices are suitable for implantation into an individual in need of treatment and are capable of supplying therapeutic substances to such individuals.
115 Citations
57 Claims
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1. An enclosable cell encapsulating device comprising:
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a) an outer permeable membrane wherein said permeable membrane allows for passage into said device of nutrients external to said device and wastes of cells and desirable cell products out of said device without permitting passage of cells therethrough; b) a cell displacing core situated in said device so as to displace cells from a region centrally located in said device, said core being substantially cell free; c) a cell zone capable of containing cells, said cell zone having a thickness extending from said permeable membrane to an outer boundary of said cell displacing core, said thickness being sufficiently narrow to support the viability of cells; and d) a sealable opening for receiving cells, which when sealed forms a completely enclosed cell encapsulation device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A device for providing substances from cells contained in the device, said device comprising
a cell displacing core having a substantially cell free interior region and an outer boundary surrounding the interior region and a long axis, wherein said core is situated in said device so as to displace cells from a region centrally located in said device; -
a cell zone containing cells, said cell zone substantially surrounding the core and extending from the outer boundary of the core to an inside surface of a permeable membrane, said cell zone being sufficiently narrow to support the viability of cells in cell layer located closest to the outer boundary of the core having a minimum cell thickness of at least one cell layer and a maximum cell thickness which is defined by a diffusion length parameter (DLP) wherein said DLP is less than about 500 microns, the permeable membrane having inside and outside surfaces and a long axis substantially parallel to the long axis of the core, and surrounding the cell zone, and a sealable opening for inserting cells, and wherein said DLP is measured on a planar cross-section of the device taken perpendicular to the long axis of the core and passing through the core, cell zone and permeable membrane at a point along the long axis of the core wherein the cell zone is sufficiently thick to contain at least one cell layer, and wherein the DLP is defined as the ratio of an area of the cell zone wherein the area is the total area of the cell zone of the cross-section, divided by a perimeter of the cell zone of the cross-section wherein the perimeter is defined as the length of the inside surface of the permeable membrane on the cross section. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of producing a device for containing cells for the production of a therapeutic substance, the method comprising
providing an exterior membrane impermeable to cells but permeable to both nutrients and the therapeutic substance produced by the cells and wherein the membrane forms a lumen; -
providing a cell-impermeable core to be inserted into the lumen of the exterior; introducing the core into the lumen of the exterior membrane to create a cell zone for maintaining cells, said cell having a thickness extending from said permeable membrane to an outer boundary of said cell displacing core and being sufficiently narrow to support the viability of cells in a cell layer closest to the outer boundary of the core, and wherein said core is situated in said device so as to displace cells from a region centrally located in said device; introducing cells into the cell zone; and sealing the exterior membrane so that the exterior membrane surrounds the core, the cell zone and the cells therein. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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Specification