Device and methods for in vivo culturing of diverse tissue cells
First Claim
1. An anatomically specific device for regenerating at least first and second, juxtaposed tissues having different histologic patterns, prior to implantation, comprising, in combination:
- a first region having an internal three-dimensional architecture to approximate the histologic pattern of the first tissue; and
a second region having an internal three-dimensional architecture to approximate the histologic pattern of the second tissue, with the first and second regions being integrally connected together at an interface without the use of solvents or chemical reactions between the first and second regions, with the regions being formed of a bioresorbable polymer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An anatomically specific, bioresorbable, implant device for facilitating the healing of voids in bone, cartilage and soft tissue is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of using the implant device for facilitating the healing of a human joint lesion includes a cartilage region invested with an alginate microstructure joined with a subchondral bone region invested with a hyaluronan microstructure. The alginate selectively dispersed in the cartilage region enhances the environment for chondrocytes to grow articular cartilage. The hyaluronan selectively dispersed in the subchondral bone region enhances the environment for mesenchymal cells which migrate into that region'"'"'s macrostructure and which differentiate into osteoblasts. The microstructures can be invested at varying concentrations in the regions. A hydrophobic barrier, strategically positioned within the subchondral bone region macrostructure, shields the chondrocytes from the oxygenated blood in subchondral cancellous bone. In the preferred form, the cartilage region includes a tangential zone including a network of intercommunicating void spaces having a horizontal orientation and in communication with synovial fluid and includes a radial zone including multiple void spaces oriented in both horizontal and vertical planes and providing intercommunication between the tangential zone and the subchondral bone region.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An anatomically specific device for regenerating at least first and second, juxtaposed tissues having different histologic patterns, prior to implantation, comprising, in combination:
- a first region having an internal three-dimensional architecture to approximate the histologic pattern of the first tissue; and
a second region having an internal three-dimensional architecture to approximate the histologic pattern of the second tissue, with the first and second regions being integrally connected together at an interface without the use of solvents or chemical reactions between the first and second regions, with the regions being formed of a bioresorbable polymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a first region having an internal three-dimensional architecture to approximate the histologic pattern of the first tissue; and
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17. A bioresorbable polymer device for regenerating cartilage tissue interfacing at an interface with subchondral cancellous bone and located between the subchondral cancellous bone and synovial fluid, prior to implantation, comprising, in combination:
- a tangential zone including a network of intercommunicating void spaces having an orientation parallel to the interface and in communication with the synovial fluid; and
a radial zone located between the tangential zone and the interface, with the radial zone including void spaces extending between and providing communication between the interface and the tangential zone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- a tangential zone including a network of intercommunicating void spaces having an orientation parallel to the interface and in communication with the synovial fluid; and
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26. A bioresorbable device for facilitating healing of voids in tissue comprising, in combination:
- a macrostructure made from a polymer providing an internal three-dimensional architecture defining a network of void spaces; and
a material for enhancing the attachment of cells to the three-dimensional architecture carried by the macrostructure at varying concentrations in the void spaces of the three-dimensional architecture. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
- a macrostructure made from a polymer providing an internal three-dimensional architecture defining a network of void spaces; and
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29. A bioresorbable device for facilitating healing of voids in tissue, prior to implantation, comprising, in combination:
- a structure made from a polymer providing an internal three-dimensional architecture including at least first and second locations; and
a first material for enhancing the attachment of cells to the three-dimensional architecture carried by the structure in the first location, with the second location being substantially free of the first cell attachment enhancing material. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- a structure made from a polymer providing an internal three-dimensional architecture including at least first and second locations; and
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35. A bioresorbable device for facilitating healing of voids in tissue, prior to implantation, comprising, in combination:
- a structure made from a polymer providing an internal three-dimensional architecture approximating a first tissue; and
a barrier positioned within the three-dimensional architecture of the structure for prohibiting water-based fluid from passing therethrough;
wherein the barrier is hydrophobic and the three-dimensional architecture outside of the barrier is hydrophilic on at least one surface. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
- a structure made from a polymer providing an internal three-dimensional architecture approximating a first tissue; and
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38. A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a structure made from a bioresorbable polymer and having an internal three-dimensional architecture including at least first and second locations;
providing a first material for enhancing the attachment of cells to the three-dimensional architecture; and
investing the first location with the first cell attachment enhancing material while the second location is substantially free of the first cell attachment enhancing material. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
- providing a structure made from a bioresorbable polymer and having an internal three-dimensional architecture including at least first and second locations;
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42. A bioresorbable polymer device for regenerating cartilage tissue interfacing at an interface with subchondral cancellous bone and located between the subchondral cancellous bone and synovial fluid, prior to implantation, comprising, in combination:
- a cartilage region having an internal three-dimensional architecture to approximate the histologic pattern of the cartilage tissue;
a subchondral bone region having an internal three-dimensional architecture to approximate the histologic pattern of the subchondral cancellous bone, with the cartilage and subchondral bone regions being integrally connected together at an interface surface, with the regions being formed of a bioresorbable polymer, with the cartilage region being divided into a tangential zone including a network of intercommunicating void spaces having an orientation parallel to the interface surface and in communication with the synovial fluid and a radial zone located between the tangential zone and the interface surface, with the radial zone including void spaces extending between and providing communication between the interface surface and the tangential zone;
a material for enhancing the attachment of cells to the three-dimensional architecture at varying concentrations in the cartilage region, with the subchondral bone region being substantially free of the cell attachment enhancing material; and
a barrier formed between the cartilage and subchondral bone regions for prohibiting water-based fluid from passing therethrough.
- a cartilage region having an internal three-dimensional architecture to approximate the histologic pattern of the cartilage tissue;
Specification