Tissue equivalent approach to a tissue-engineered cardiovascular valve

• US 6,666,886 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Original Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Inventors: Neidert, Michael, Tranquillo, Robert T., Girton, Timothy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/505,121
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2-2-, 623/2.42
• US Class Current: 623/2.42
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2415 Manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/225 Fibrin; Fibrinogen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/24 Collagen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3804 characterised by specific cells or progenitors thereof, e.g. fibroblasts, connective tissue cells, kidney cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3843 Connective tissue

Abstract

The invention provides a molded valve leaflet containing a molded biopolymer having fibrils and cells within the molded biopolymer, wherein the fibrils of the molded biopolymer have commisure-to-commisure alignment. The invention also provides a valve equivalent containing a plurality of molded valve leaflets that are connected to a base, wherein the molded valve leaflets include a molded biopolymer having fibrils and cells within the molded biopolymer, wherein the fibrils of the molded biopolymer have commisure-to-commisure alignment.

Claims

1. A molded valve leaflet comprising a molded biopolymer having fibrils and cells within the molded biopolymer, wherein the fibrils of the molded biopolymer have commisure-to-commisure alignment.

2. The molded valve leaflet of claim 1, wherein the biopolymer is cross-linked.

3. The molded valve leaflet of claim 2, wherein a stress-strain curve obtained using the molded valve leaflet is similar to a stress-strain curve obtained using a native valve leaflet.

4. The molded valve leaflet of claim 1, wherein the biopolymer is a fibrillar biopolymer.

5. The molded valve leaflet of claim 4, wherein the fibrillar biopolymer is collagen or fibrin.

6. The molded valve leaflet of claim 1, wherein the cells are fibroblasts or myofibroblasts.

7. The molded valve leaflet of claim 1, wherein the molded valve leaflet is a replacement for a native heart valve leaflet or a native venous valve leaflet.

8. A valve equivalent comprising a plurality of molded valve leaflets connected to a base, wherein the molded valve leaflets comprise a molded biopolymer having fibrils and cells within the molded biopolymer, wherein the fibrils of the molded biopolymer have commisure-to-commisure alignment.

9. The valve equivalent of claim 8, wherein the valve equivalent has 2, 3, or 4 molded valve leaflets connected to the base.

10. The valve equivalent of claim 8, wherein the biopolymer is cross-linked.

11. The valve equivalent of claim 10, wherein a stress-strain curve obtained using at least one of the molded valve leaflets is similar to a stress-strain curve obtained using a native valve leaflet.

12. The valve equivalent of claim 8, wherein the biopolymer is a fibrillar biopolymer.

13. The valve equivalent of claim 12, wherein the fibrillar biopolymer is collagen or fibrin.

14. The valve equivalent of claim 8, wherein the cells are fibroblasts or myofibroblasts.

15. The valve equivalent of claim 8, wherein the valve equivalent is a heart valve equivalent or a venous valve replacement.