Engineered muscle

• US 6,592,623 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Original Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Inventors: Terracio, Louis, Simpson, David G., Bowlin, Gary L., Wnek, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Hieu
• Application Number:
  US09/386,273
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 623/13-1-, 623/14.13, 623/15.12
• US Class Current: 623/14.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/30 for muscle reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/18 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/24 Collagen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/34 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3817 Cartilage-forming cells, e.g. pre-chondrocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3826 Muscle cells, e.g. smooth muscle cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/383 Nerve cells, e.g. dendritic cells, Schwann cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3873 Muscle tissue, e.g. sphincter
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/507 for artificial blood vessels apparatus for applying cells on a blood vessel prosthesis A61F2/062
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 89/06 derived from leather or skin , e.g. gelatin

Abstract

A muscle implant includes an extracellular matrix, tendon and muscle cells. The extracellular matrix is made of a matrix of electrospun polymer fibers. The tendon is made of extruded collagen fibers and the muscle cells are disposed on the extracellular matrix in such a manner that the combination of components will functionally and structurally act as normal muscle tissue. Cardiac and smooth muscles may be similarly formed without tendons but including the extracellular matrix and muscle cells.

Claims

1. A muscle implant comprising:

an extracellular matrix for supporting muscle,

a tendon comprising extruded fibers,

a muscle cell layer, and

an oriented layer of collagen deposited onto the extracellular matrix wherein the muscle cells are disposed onto the oriented layer of collagen.

2. The muscle implant as described in claim 1, wherein the muscle cell layer is multilayered.

3. The muscle implant as described in claim 1, wherein the muscle cells and tendon are oriented in parallel directions.

4. A muscle implant comprising an extracellular matrix for supporting muscle, a muscle cell layer, and an oriented layer of collagen deposited onto the extracellular matrix wherein the muscle cells are disposed onto the oriented layer of collagen.

5. The muscle implant as described in claim 4, wherein the muscle cell layer is multilayered.

6. A method of forming a muscle implant comprising:

providing a fascial sheath,

depositing a layer of collagen on the fascial sheath,

laminating a tendon onto the fascial sheath, and

depositing muscle cells onto the collagen.

7. The method described in claim 6, further comprising:

aligning the layer of collagen on the fascial sheath.

8. The method described in claim 6, further comprising:

laminating the tendon onto the fascial sheath in the same direction as the alignment of the collagen.

9. The method described in claim 6, wherein the tendon is formed by extruding collagen fibers.

10. The method described in claim 6, wherein the muscle cells are satellite muscle cells obtained from a patient into which the muscle implant will be placed.

11. A method of layering muscle cells on an extracellular matrix comprising:

providing an extracellular matrix,

placing the extracellular matrix inside a rotating wall bioreactor,

loading a culture medium into the bioreactor wherein the medium comprises muscle cells, and

running the bioreactor until muscle cells attach to the extracellular matrix.

12. The method described in claim 11 wherein the muscle cells attached to the extracellular matrix form multiple layers.