Polymer filament reinforced scaffold for partial meniscus regeneration
AssigneeRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
InventorsSalim Ghodbane, Charles Gatt, Jr., Michael Dunn
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Abstract
A method for fabricating a resorbable scaffold for regeneration of meniscal tissue is disclosed. The method includes fabricating a polymer filament network using 3D printing in accordance with a digital model of the polymer filament network, such that the polymer filament network will include a first plurality of layers comprising the circumferentially-oriented filaments alternating with a second plurality of layers comprising the radially-oriented filaments, the polymer filament network having a three-dimensional shape and geometry between a first layer and a second layer which is substantially the same as a three-dimensional shape and geometry of the resorbable scaffold.
Claims5
A method for at least partial replacement of a native meniscus, comprising:
- providing a 3D printed resorbable scaffold, the 3D printed resorbable scaffold comprising:
- a polymer filament network comprising a first plurality of layers comprising circumferentially-oriented filaments alternating with a second plurality of layers comprising radially-oriented filaments, the polymer filament network having a wedge-shaped cross-section between a first layer and a second layer, wherein:
- a number of the circumferentially-oriented filaments sequentially decreases in at least some of the first plurality of layers from the first layer to the second layer, and
- a length of the radially-oriented filaments sequentially decreases in at least some of the second plurality of layers from the first layer to the second layer;
- and
- a matrix embedded in the polymer filament network;
- replacing a first portion of the native meniscus with at least a portion of the 3D printed resorbable scaffold;
- and
- suturing the resorbable scaffold directly to a portion of the native meniscus that does not include the first portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.