Chondrocyte container and method of use

• US 8,257,963 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Depuy Mitek LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Binette, Francois, Story, Brooks J., Brown, M. E. Liesbeth
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIN LIN
• Application Number:
  US12/123,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20080299173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 435/325, 435/283.1, 435/286.2, 435/286.5, 435/297.1, 514/2
• US Class Current: 435/286.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/32 Bones; Osteocytes; Osteoblasts; Tendons; Tenocytes; Teeth; Odontoblasts; Cartilage; Chondrocytes; Synovial membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/602 Type of release, e.g. controlled, sustained, slow
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3817 Cartilage-forming cells, e.g. pre-chondrocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/00 Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests vaccination appliances for veterinary use A61D1/025 ; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; combinations of vial and syringe for mixing or transferring their contents A61J1/20; holders for containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/04 for non-specific disorders of the connective tissue
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/76 Agarose, agar-agar
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0655 Chondrocytes; Cartilage

Abstract

Devices and methods for delivering a therapeutic agent produced via a genetically-altered chondrocyte are provided. More specifically, the device includes a housing which defines a cell chamber configured to retain a large volume of chondrocytes while selectively releasing therapeutic agents produced via these entrapped cells. In an exemplary embodiment, the cell chamber can be configured such that a portion of cells can be positioned at least about 1.5 mm from an external wall of the device (i.e., about 1.5 mm away from an external nutrient supply). For example, the cell chamber can have a tubular configuration having a length and a diameter wherein each of these dimensions is at least about 3 mm (thereby the central core to the chamber is at least about 1.5 mm from the outer wall of the device).

Claims

1. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a surgical site, comprising:

utilizing a delivery device comprising a cell chamber, an auxiliary fluid chamber, and an expandable chamber;

the auxiliary fluid chamber being positioned between the cell chamber and the expandable chamber;

disposing a plurality of chondrocytes in the cell chamber, the cell chamber being configured to retain the chondrocytes, and further configured to allow for release of a therapeutic agent produced by the chondrocytes;

delivering the delivery device to a surgical site; and

delivering the therapeutic agent from the device to the surgical site.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

suturing the delivery device at the treatment site.

3. The method claim 1 further comprising:

injecting additional chondrocytes into the delivery device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary fluid chamber is configured to house an auxiliary fluid and the auxiliary fluid chamber is separated from the cell chamber via a semi-permeable membrane.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary fluid chamber is configured to deliver an auxiliary fluid to the cell chamber.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the expandable chamber includes an osmotic membrane configured to allow for the input of fluid to the expandable chamber such that auxiliary fluid is controllably introduced to the cell chamber in response to the expansion of the expandable chamber.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable chamber is separated from the auxiliary fluid chamber by a piston element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the expandable chamber houses a water swellable agent configured to supply a force to the piston element in response to an input of water.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary fluid includes cell nutrients.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary fluid includes an agent capable of modifying an aspect of chondrocyte performance.