Tissue press and system

A tissue press for shaping a piece of tissue to a particular overall shape for implantation, comprising:

• a first forming element having a first forming surface for providing a first portion of the overall shape of the reshaped tissue;
• a base member supporting said first forming element and including surface means for supporting said base member and thereby said apparatus on an external support surface;
• a second forming element having a second forming surface for providing a second portion of the overall shape of the reshaped tissue, said first and second forming elements being positionable on opposite sides of the piece of tissue to be shaped;
• a manually engageable member connected with said base member and supporting said second forming element, said manually engageable member being movable relative to said base member to move said second forming element toward said first forming element to reshape the piece of tissue between the first and second forming elements;
• and
• means for blocking application to the piece of tissue of pressure in excess of a predetermined amount.

A tissue press for compressing a piece of tissue, comprising:

• a base member;
• a first compressing part on said base member for receiving the piece of tissue thereon;
• a movable member connected with said base member and movable relative to said base member;
• a second compressing part on said movable member, said first and second compressing parts being positionable on opposite sides of the piece of tissue when the piece of tissue is received on said first compressing part;
• and
• said movable member being movable toward said base member to move said second compressing part toward said first compressing part to compress the piece of tissue between the first and second compressing parts.

A tissue press for compressing a piece of tissue, comprising:

• first and second relatively movable support members connected with each other;
• said first support member having a surface portion receiving a selected one of a plurality of first compression members having predetermined forms, said first compression member adapted to receive the piece of tissue thereon,
• said second support member being movably connected with said first support member and having a surface portion receiving a selected one of a plurality of second compression members having various forms,
• said first and second compression members being positionable on opposite sides of the piece of tissue to be compressed,
• said first and second support members being relatively movable to move said second compression member toward said first compression member to engage and compress the piece of tissue between the first and second compression members;
• means for draining off fluid which may be expressed from the piece of tissue to be compressed;
• and
• means for limiting the amount of pressure applied to the piece of tissue in order to minimize tissue necrosis.

A tissue press for shaping a piece of tissue, comprising:

• first and second members;
• a plurality of first forming elements of different predetermined shapes selectively engageable on said first member,
• a plurality of second forming elements of different predetermined shapes selectively engageable on said second member,
• said first and second forming elements when on said first and second members being positionable on opposite sides of the piece of tissue, and
• said first and second members being relatively movable between a first spaced apart condition and a second condition in which said piece of tissue is held between said first and second forming elements.

A method of reshaping tissue for use as graft material comprising the steps of:

• determining the shape which the tissue should possess as graft material;
• providing a tissue press;
• selecting forming elements adapted to press tissue approximately to the desired shape;
• placing the forming elements on the tissue press;
• placing the tissue in the tissue press between the forming elements;
• operating the tissue press to shape the tissue between the forming elements to give the tissue the desired shape;
• and
• controlling the pressure on the tissue during said shaping step to minimize damage to or necrosis of the tissue.

A method of preparing tissue for use as graft material comprising the steps of:

• determining the shape and size which the tissue should possess as graft material;
• placing the tissue in a tissue press having forming elements adapted to press tissue approximately to the shape and size desired;
• compressing the tissue in the tissue press to give the tissue the shape and size desired;
• controlling the pressure on the tissue during the compressing step to minimize damage to or necrosis of the tissue;
• and
• draining off fluid expressed during said compressing step.

A tissue press for compressing or shaping a piece of tissue, comprising:

• a first member, and a first forming element on said first member;
• a second member connected with said first member, and a second forming element on said second member;
• said second member being movable toward said first member to move said second forming element toward said first forming element to compress or shape the piece of tissue between the first and second forming elements;
• and
• means for selectively controlling the temperature of the piece of tissue while it is being compressed or shaped.

A tissue press for compressing or shaping a piece of tissue, comprising:

• a first member, and a first forming element on said first member;
• a second member connected with said first member, and a second forming element on said second member;
• said second member being movable toward said first member to move said second forming element toward said first forming element to compress or shape the piece of tissue between the first and second forming elements;
• and
• means for selectively removing excess tissue from the piece of tissue after it is compressed or shaped.

A tissue press for compressing or shaping a piece of tissue, comprising:

• a first member, and a first forming element on said first member;
• a second member connected with said first member, and a second forming element on said second member;
• said second member being movable toward said first member to move said second forming element toward said first forming element to compress or shape the piece of tissue between the first and second forming elements;
• and
• a non-stick coating on at least one of said first and second forming elements to limit adhesion of the piece of tissue while it is being compressed or shaped.

Apparatus for shaping a piece of tissue, comprising:

• first and second relatively movable members;
• a plurality of first forming elements of different predetermined shapes selectively engageable on said first member;
• means for connecting a selected one of said first forming elements with said first member;
• a plurality of second forming elements of different predetermined shapes selectively engageable on said second member,
• means for connecting a selected one of said second forming elements with said second member;
• said first and second forming elements when connected with said first and second members being positionable on opposite sides of the piece of tissue;
• and
• said first and second members being relatively movable between a first spaced apart condition and a second condition in which said piece of tissue is shaped between said first and second forming elements.

A method of preparing composite tissue graft material, comprising the steps of:

• placing body tissue and at least one other element in a tissue press having forming elements adapted to press tissue approximately to the shape and size desired;
• compressing the body tissue and the other element in the tissue press to form a composite tissue graft having the shape and size desired;
• and
• controlling the pressure on the body tissue during the compressing step to minimize damage to or necrosis of the tissue.