Preform produced by electrospinning, method for producing the same and use of such a preform

• US 9,272,076 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
• Original Assignee: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
• Inventors: Baaijens, Franciscus Petrus Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): ZISKA, SUZANNE E
• Application Number:
  US13/943,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1132 End-to-end connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/24 Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the heart muscle; Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices; Valves implantable in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2415 Manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/148 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/42 characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4374 using different kinds of webs, e.g. by layering webs
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/728 by electro-spinning electro-spinning methods and apparatus D01D5/0007
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 13/00 Other non-woven fabrics

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a preform by means of an electrospinning process. The present invention also relates to the use of the present preform as a substrate for growing human or animal tissue thereon. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for growing human or animal tissue on a substrate, wherein the present preform is used as the substrate.

Claims

1. A method for implanting a heart valve preform, comprising:

providing an electrospun, porous, biodegradable heart valve preform having membranes produced by electrospinning at least two fibre layers over at least three separate submoulds, wherein the submoulds comprise convex upper surfaces and at least two contact surfaces which define abutting co-optation surfaces on the membranes, the heart valve preform having an open fiber-like structure; and

implanting the heart valve preform in a human or animal body, wherein the heart valve preform decomposes substantially completely and is replaced by natural tissue, and wherein the heart valve preform forms at least part of a heart valve.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the heart valve preform is incubated with human or animal cells prior to incubation to allow cells to grow in the open fiber-like structure to provide tissue over the heart valve preform.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the heart valve preform at least partially degrades prior to implantation.

4. The method as in claim 2, wherein the heart valve preform entirely degrades prior to implantation.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the two fibre layers have different decomposition rates.

6. A heart valve preform, comprising:

an electrospun, porous, biodegradable heart valve preform having membranes produced by electrospinning at least two fibre layers over at least three separate submoulds, wherein the submoulds comprise convex upper surfaces and at least two contact surfaces which define abutting co-optation surfaces on the membranes, the heart valve preform having an open fibre-like structure and being configured to decompose substantially completely and be replaced by natural tissue after implantation into a human or animal body, and wherein the heart valve preform forms at least part of a heart valve.

7. The heart valve preform as in claim 6, wherein the heart valve preform is configured to allow human or animal tissue to grow in the open fibre-like structure as a result of incubation with human or animal cells prior to implantation.

8. The heart valve preform as in claim 7, wherein the heart valve preform is configured to at least partially degrade prior to implantation.

9. The heart valve preform as in claim 7, wherein the heart valve preform is configured to entirely degrade prior to implantation.

10. The heart valve preform as in claim 6, wherein the two fibre layers have different decomposition rates.