Viable tissue repair implants and methods of use

• US 8,641,775 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Mitek LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Mitek LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Harmon, Alexander M., Kladakis, Stephanie M., Hwang, Julia
• Primary Examiner(s): STEWART, ALVIN J
• Application Number:
  US13/018,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20110177134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 623 2372- 2376, 623/20.32, 623/20.35, 623 138- 154, 623/23.58
• US Class Current: 623/23.72
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/06 for cartilage reconstruction, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3683 subjected to a specific treatment prior to implantation, e.g. decellularising, demineralising, grinding, cellular disruption/non-collagenous protein removal, anti-calcification, crosslinking, supercritical fluid extraction, enzyme treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/38 containing added animal cells organs or tissue containing native cells A61L27/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/02 for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis

Abstract

Biocompatible tissue implants are provided for repairing a tissue injury or defect. The tissue implants comprise a biological tissue slice that serves as a source of viable cells capable of tissue regeneration and/or repair. The biological tissue slice can be harvested from healthy tissue to have a geometry that is suitable for implantation at the site of the injury or defect. The harvested tissue slice is dimensioned to allow the viable cells contained within the tissue slice to migrate out and proliferate and integrate with tissue surrounding the injury or defect site. Methods for repairing a tissue injury or defect using the tissue implants are also provided.

Claims

1. A biocompatible tissue implant for repairing a tissue injury or defect, comprising:

(i) a biological tissue slice having a geometry suitable for implantation at the tissue site, the tissue slice being capable of acting as a source of an effective amount of viable cells, and further being dimensioned so that the cells can migrate out of the tissue slice to proliferate and integrate with tissue at the injury or defect, and

(ii) at least one minced tissue fragment associated with the tissue slice and containing a plurality of viable cells.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the tissue slice comprises autogeneic tissue, allogeneic tissue, xenogeneic tissue, and combinations thereof.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the tissue slice is obtained from a tissue type selected from the group consisting of cartilage, meniscus, tendon, ligament, intestinal, stomach, bladder, alimentary, respiratory, genital, liver, dermis, synovium, and combinations thereof.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the tissue slice has a thickness less than about 3 mm.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein the tissue slice has a thickness less than about 1 mm.

6. The implant of claim 5, wherein the tissue slice has a thickness in the range of about 200 μ

m to about 500 μ

m.

7. The implant of claim 1, further including a plurality of tissue slices joined together to form a layered implant of a desired size and geometry.

8. The implant of claim 1, further including a retaining element for securing the tissue slice to the tissue site.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one minced tissue fragment has a particle size in the range of about 0.1 mm³ to about 2 mm³.

10. The implant of claim 1, further including a biocompatible tissue scaffold.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the tissue scaffold is bioresorbable.

12. The implant of claim 10, wherein the tissue scaffold is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a synthetic polymer, a natural polymer, an injectable gel, a ceramic material, autogeneic tissue, allogeneic tissue, xenogeneic tissue, and combinations thereof.

13. The implant of claim 10, wherein the scaffold further comprises at least one bioactive agent applied thereto.

14. The implant of claim 13, wherein the at least one bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of growth factors, matrix proteins, peptides, antibodies, enzymes, platelets, platelet rich plasma, glycoproteins, hormones, glycosaminoglycans, nucleic acids, analgesics, viruses, virus particles, cytokines and isolated cells and combinations thereof.

15. The implant of claim 10, further including a plurality of tissue slices and a plurality of tissue scaffolds joined together to form a layered implant of a desired size and geometry.

16. A method for repairing a tissue injury or defect, comprising:

providing (i) a biocompatible tissue implant comprising a biological tissue slice having a geometry suitable for implantation at a tissue injury or defect site, the tissue slice being capable of acting as a source of an effective amount of viable cells, and further being dimensioned so that the cells can migrate out of the tissue slice to proliferate and integrate with tissue at the tissue injury or defect site and (ii) at least one minced tissue fragment containing a plurality of viable cells;

associating the at least one minced tissue fragment with the tissue slice; and

delivering the implant to the tissue site to be repaired.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the biocompatible tissue implant is in the form of a plurality of tissue slices joined together to form a layered implant of a desired size and geometry.

18. The method of claim 16, further including the step of applying the tissue slice to a biocompatible tissue scaffold to form a composite implant prior to the delivering step, and the step of delivering the implant comprises delivering the composite implant to the tissue site to be repaired.