Collagen-based meniscus implants

A collagen meniscus implant

• comprising:
• a non-human collagen source;
• at least 90% by weight of type I collagen;
• less than 0.2% by weight of
• glycosaminoglycan;
• and about 81 to 91 ppm
• DNA;
• an outside surface providing a perimeter of the implant, the outside surface comprising pores having a size of 10 μm to 100 μm;
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant has a density of about 0.29 g/cm3,
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant is configured for in vivo use in a human patient;
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant is configured to be stable in vivo for a period of
• about 6 to 12 months;
• and
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant pores are configured to allow fibrochondrocytes to migrate inside the implant after implantation to form an endogenous extracellular matrix that replaces the collagen meniscus implant.

A collagen meniscus implant produced by a method comprising steps including:

• obtaining a freshly excised meniscus from a non-human animal source,
• removing adherent tissues from the freshly excised meniscus to form a cleaned meniscus;
• rinsing the cleaned meniscus in an aqueous solution;
• machining the rinsed meniscus to fit into a human subject;
• and drying the machined meniscus;
• extracting the dried machined non-human meniscus to remove non-collagenous material;
• and
• sterilizing the extracted non-human meniscus, thereby forming the collagen meniscus
• implant;
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant comprises at least 90% by weight of type I collagen;
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant comprises less than 0.2% by weight of
• glycosaminoglycan;
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant has a density of about 0.29 g/cm3, wherein the collagen meniscus implant comprises about 81 to 91 ppm DNA;
• wherein the method lacks an enzymatic digesting step;
• and
• wherein the method lacks an oxidizing step.

A collagen meniscus implant comprising:

• a non-human collagen source comprising at least 90% by weight of type I collagen;
• less than 0.2% by weight of glycosaminoglycan;
• and
• about 81 to 91 ppm DNA;
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant has a density of about 0.29 g/cm3,
• wherein a surface of the collagen meniscus implant comprises pores, the pores having a size of 10 μm to 100 μm;
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant is configured for in vivo use in a human patient and to be stable in vivo for a period of about 6 to 12 months;
• and
• wherein the collagen meniscus implant is configured to reduce rehabilitation time following implantation into a human patient.