Reinforced biocompatible scaffold

A method of making a porous biocompatible scaffold, comprising:

• providing a composition comprising one or more biocompatible polymer materials, wherein the one or more biocompatible polymer materials comprises solid polycaprolactone and wherein polycaprolactone is present within a range of 10 to 50% w/v;
• heating the composition comprising the one or more biocompatible polymer materials to provide a heated at least partially fluid composition comprising the one or more biocompatible polymer materials;
• mixing the heated at least partially fluid composition comprising the one or more biocompatible polymer materials and one or more organic solvents to provide a heated fluid composition;
• providing a porogen construct;
• combining the porogen construct and the heated fluid composition to form a temporary composite;
• immersing the temporary composite in water;
• allowing a membrane to at least partially form on at least part of a surface of the temporary composite;
• removing the at least partially formed membrane from the at least part of the surface of the temporary composite;
• allowing ingress of water substantially throughout the temporary composite;
• allowing coagulation of the at least one or more biocompatible polymer materials within the porogen construct;
• removing the water, porogen construct, and one or more solvents from the temporary composite to provide a scaffold having a hierarchical interconnected porosity, wherein the scaffold has a porosity within the range of 30 to 95% of the volume of the scaffold;
• introducing an arrangement of one or more biocompatible filaments and/or at least one biocompatible conduit into the scaffold to reinforce the porous scaffold, wherein the one or more filaments and/or the at least one biocompatible conduit is helical;
• and
• embedding the one or more biocompatible filaments and/or at least one biocompatible conduit within the biocompatible scaffold, and fusing the one or more biocompatible filaments and/or at least one biocompatible conduit within the scaffold,
• wherein embedding the one or more biocompatible filament and/or the at least one biocompatible conduit comprises:
• providing a helical wire substantially identical in shape and size to the at least one helical filament or conduit, the helical wire having a first end and a second end;
• attaching one end of a helical biocompatible filament to the second end of the helical wire;
• rotatably inserting the helical wire into the scaffold to create a helical channel to house the biocompatible filament within the scaffold;
• removing the helical wire from the scaffold by continuing to rotate the helical wire through the scaffold until the path is filled with the biocompatible filament and the helical wire is out of the scaffold;
• and
• detaching the helical wire from the biocompatible filament.