Method and device for reconstruction of articular cartilage

• US 6,005,161 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kensey Nash Corporation (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Original Assignee: THM Biomedical, Inc. (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Inventors: Brekke, John H., Coutts, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ISABELLA, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US08/481,821
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/16, 623/18, 623/66, 424/422, 424/423, 424/424
• US Class Current: 424/422
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30756 Cartilage endoprostheses A61F2/3603 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3601 for replacing only the epiphyseal or metaphyseal parts of the femur, e.g. endoprosthetic femoral heads or necks directly fixed to the natural femur by internal fixation devices non-prosthetic internal fixation devices for the femoral head or neck A61B17/74
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30261 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30461 sutured, ligatured or stitched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4649 Bone graft or bone dowel harvest sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0082 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/414 Growth factors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/604 Biodegradation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/64 Animal cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3641 characterised by the site of application in the body materials for artificial blood vessels A61L27/507; materials for use in artificial skin A61L27/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/365 Bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3654 : Cartilage, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3839 : characterised by the site of application in the body materials for artificial blood vessels A61L27/507; materials for use in artificial skin A61L27/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3847 : Bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/48 : with macromolecular fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 : Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 : Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/58 : Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 : Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A biodegradable device for facilitating healing of structural voids in bone, cartilage as well as soft tissue is disclosed in the most preferred form including a porous macrostructure made from a biodegradable polymer and a chemotactic ground substance in the form of an RGD attachment moiety of fibronectin formed as a porous microstructure. For repair of articular cartilage, harvested precursor cells are secured to the biodegradable carrier which is shaped for press fitting into the articular cartilage lesion. In the most preferred form, the chemotactic ground substance enhances the attractiveness of the biodegradable device for cellular attachment at the site of repair and also facilitates the attachment of free, precursor cells such as chondrocytes and bone marrow to the biodegradable device. In the most preferred form, biological modifiers such as transforming growth factor B and basic fibroblastic growth factor is incorporated in the biodegradable device to mediate cellular activity and regulate cellular functions.

Claims

1. A biodegradable device for facilitating healing of voids in bone, cartilage as well as soft tissue comprising, in combination:

a. a porous macrostructure, made from a biodegradable polymer, providing a porous architecture as well as structural and mechanical integrity to the void being treated, with the porous macrostructure including interconnecting voids; and

b. a porous microstructure, formed from a chemotactic ground substance and located in the voids and carried by and separate from the biodegradable polymer forming the porous macrostructure, with the chemotactic ground substance includes an RGD attachment moiety of fibronectin.

2. A biodegradable device for facilitating healing of structural voids in bone, cartilage as well as soft tissue comprising, in combination:

a. a porous macrostructure, made from a biodegradable polymer, providing a porous architecture as well as structural and mechanical integrity to the void being treated, with the porous macrostructure including interconnecting voids;

b. a porous microstructure, formed from a chemotactic ground substance and located in the voids and carried by and separate from the biodegradable polymer forming the porous macrostructure; and

c. graft precursor cells carried by the porous macrostructure.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the graft precursor cells are in the form of tissue sutured to the porous macrostructure.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the graft precursor cells are in the form of free cells having receptors, with the free cells being attached to the porous macrostructure by permitting the receptors of the free cells to be engaged to the porous macrostructure.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the chemotactic ground substance includes an RGD attachment moiety of fibronectin.

6. A biodegradable device for facilitating healing of structural voids in bone, cartilage as well as soft tissue comprising, in combination:

a porous macrostructure, made from a biodegradable polymer, providing a porous architecture as well as structural and mechanical integrity to the void being treated, with the porous macrostructure including interconnecting voids; and

graft precursor cells in the form of free cells having receptors, with the free cells being attached to the porous macrostructure by permitting the receptors of the free cells to be engaged to the porous macrostructure.