Method of transplanting human body tissue

• US 6,503,277 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Bonutti 2003 Trust A
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US09/798,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20010008979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 623/22.12, 623/23.72, 623/11.11, 623/23.26, 623/23.28, 623/23.34, 623/23.46, 623/23.23, 623/23.25, 623/23.14, 623/23.44, 623/908, 623/901, 623/16.11, 623/23.51, 606/76, 606/77, 600/36
• US Class Current: 623/11.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1606 of forceps type, i.e. having two jaw elements moving relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/885 Tools for expanding or compacting bones or discs or cavities therein A61B17/8805, A61B17/7097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4644 Preparation of bone graft, bone plugs or bone dowels, e.g. grinding or milling bone material bone material A61F2/28; disintegrating or milling devices B02C
• 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 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30545 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 : swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 : Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 : for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 1/04 : operated by hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/02 : using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 : Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/908 : Bone

Abstract

A method of transplanting human body tissue. Tissue elements are obtained from a human donor and are interconnected at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted. The article is then transported to an operating facility where it is implanted into a patient.

Claims

1. A method of transplanting human body tissue, said method comprising the steps of obtaining tissue elements from at least one human donor, interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient, said steps of obtaining tissue elements and interconnecting tissue elements include at least partially maintaining at least some characteristics of the tissue elements that were present prior to obtaining of the tissue elements from the donor, moving the articles from the remote location to the operating facility, and implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility,

wherein the step of obtaining tissue elements includes obtaining bone tissue elements and tendon elements and said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes connecting bone tissue elements with opposite end portions of at least one tendon element.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of implanting the article into the patient includes using the article during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

2. A method of transplanting human body tissue, said method comprising the steps of obtaining tissue elements from at least one human donor, interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient, said steps of obtaining tissue elements and interconnecting tissue elements include at least partially maintaining at least some characteristics of the tissue elements that were present prior to obtaining of the tissue elements from the donor, moving the article from the remote location to the operating facility, and implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility,

wherein said step of interconnecting tissue elements includes interconnecting a plurality of separate tissue elements to form a unitary tissue element having a desired configuration.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes packing the tissue elements together.

7. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes applying pressure against tissue elements.

8. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes adding growth enhancers to the plurality of tissue elements and interconnecting the plurality of tissue elements and growth enhancers to form the article to be implanted.

9. A method as set forth in claim 2 further including the steps of removing fluid from the tissue elements prior to movement of the article from the remote location to the operating facility and absorbing fluid into the article after the article has been implanted into the patient.

10. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes applying force against the tissue elements and monitoring the magnitude of the force applied against the tissue elements.

11. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements to form an article includes changing the configuration of the tissue elements from a first configuration to a second configuration.

12. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting tissue elements includes interconnecting tissue elements having different physical characteristics to form a composite article to be implanted in a patient.

15. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes adding fibrin to the tissue elements to form an article which contains at least fibrin and a plurality of tissue elements.

18. A method as set forth in claim 2 further including the step of expanding the article after the article has been implanted into the patient.

27. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from the operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements with a biodegradable matrix, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue elements enclosed with the biodegradable matrix.

28. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from the operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements with a biodegradable mesh, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue elements enclosed with the biodegradable mesh.

29. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements in a matrix formed by gelatin, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue enclosed in the matrix formed by gelatin.

3. A method of transplanting human body tissue, said method comprising the steps of obtaining tissue elements from at least one human donor, interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient, said steps of obtaining tissue elements and interconnecting tissue elements include at least partially maintaining at least some characteristics of the tissue elements that were present prior to obtaining of the tissue elements from the donor, moving the articles from the remote location to the operating facility, and implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility,

wherein said step of maintaining at least some characteristics of the tissue elements that were present prior to obtaining of the tissue elements from the donor includes maintaining at least some of the tissue elements in a viable living condition during the obtaining of the tissue elements and the interconnecting of the tissue elements.

14. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said step of obtaining tissue elements includes obtaining a plurality of tissue fragments, said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes interconnecting the tissue fragments.

16. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes extruding the tissue elements.

17. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements includes heating the tissue elements.

30. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from the operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements with a biodegradable matrix, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue elements enclosed with the biodegradable matrix.

31. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from the operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements with a biodegradable mesh, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue elements enclosed with the biodegradable mesh.

32. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements in a matrix formed by gelatin, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue enclosed in the matrix formed by gelatin.

4. A method of transplanting human body tissue, said method comprising the steps of obtaining tissue elements from at least one human donor, interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient, said steps of obtaining tissue elements and interconnecting tissue elements include at least partially maintaining at least some characteristics of the tissue elements that were present prior to obtaining of the tissue elements from the donor, moving the articles from the remote location to the operating facility, and implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility,

wherein said step of interconnecting tissue elements includes cutting off of excess tissue from at least one of the tissue elements.

33. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from the operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements with a biodegradable matrix, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue elements enclosed with the biodegradable matrix.

34. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from the operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements with a biodegradable mesh, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue elements enclosed with the biodegradable mesh.

35. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements in a matrix formed by gelatin, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue enclosed in the matrix formed by gelatin.

5. A method of transplanting human body tissue, said method comprising the steps of obtaining bone fragments from at least one human donor, combining the bone fragments with a gelatin carrier, shaping the bone fragments and gelatin carrier at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient, said step of shaping the bone fragments and gelatin carrier includes heating at least the gelatin carrier and at least partially enclosing the bone fragments with the gelatin carrier, moving the article from the remote location to the operating facility, and implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility.

19. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of shaping the bone fragments and gelatin carrier includes applying force against the bone fragments and gelatin carrier after having performed said step of heating the gelatin carrier.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 further including the step of monitoring the magnitude of the force applied against the bone fragments and gelatin carrier and maintaining the magnitude of the force applied against the bone fragments and gelatin carrier at a magnitude which is less than predetermined magnitude.

21. A method as set forth in claim 5 further including the step of providing bone growth enhancers in the gelatin carrier.

22. A method as set forth in claim 5 further including the step of providing fibrin in the gelatin carrier.

23. A method as set forth in claim 5 further including the step of removing fluid from the bone fragments prior to combining of the bone fragments with the gelatin carrier.

24. A method of transplanting human body tissue, said method comprising the steps of obtaining tissue elements from at least one human donor, interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient, said steps of obtaining tissue elements and interconnecting tissue elements include at least partially maintaining at least some characteristics of the tissue elements that were present prior to obtaining of the tissue elements from the donor, moving the articles from the remote location to the operating facility, and implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility,

wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from the operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements with a biodegradable matrix, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue elements enclosed with the biodegradable matrix.

25. A method of transplanting human body tissue, said method comprising the steps of obtaining tissue elements from at least one human donor, interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient, said steps of obtaining tissue elements and interconnecting tissue elements include at least partially maintaining at least some characteristics of the tissue elements that were present prior to obtaining of the tissue elements from the donor, moving the articles from the remote location to the operating facility, and implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility,

wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from the operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements with a biodegradable mesh, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue elements enclosed with the biodegradable mesh.

26. A method of transplanting human body tissue, said method comprising the steps of obtaining tissue elements from at least one human donor, interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient, said steps of obtaining tissue elements and interconnecting tissue elements include at least partially maintaining at least some characteristics of the tissue elements that were present prior to obtaining of the tissue elements from the donor, moving the articles from the remote location to the operating facility, and implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility,

wherein said step of interconnecting the tissue elements at a location remote from an operating facility to form an article to be implanted in a human patient includes enclosing the tissue elements in a matrix formed by gelatin, said step of implanting the article into the patient at the operating facility is performed with the tissue enclosed in the matrix formed by gelatin.