Apparatus for preparing a biocompatible matrix
AssigneeUniversity of Cincinnati
InventorSteven T. Boyce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method of using the apparatus to prepare a biocompatible biodegradable matrix capable of supporting cells to form an implantable or engraftable surgical device. A matrix-forming fluid is contained within a chamber defined by top and bottom surfaces of a thermally conductive material and spacers defining the thickness of the matrix. The chamber is then cooled to freeze the solution at a controlled rate, resulting in a matrix with a desired and uniform thickness having symmetric and uniform reticulations. The apparatus and method reproducibly forms such a matrix, which may be populated with cells for transplantation and engraftment into a wound.
Claims42
An apparatus to prepare a biocompatible matrix from a matrix-forming fluid comprising
- a chamber to contain a matrix-forming fluid, said chamber defined by at least a top planar surface of a heat conductive material and a bottom planar surface of a heat conductive material, said top and bottom surfaces effective to symmetrically remove heat from said top surface and said bottom surface of said matrix-forming fluid,
- at least one gasket having a uniform thickness positioned between said top and bottom surfaces to define a perimeter of said chamber, said gasket capable of containing said matrix-forming fluid within said perimeter, and
- a plurality of fasteners to fasten said apparatus.
A method for producing a biocompatible matrix comprising
- containing a matrix-forming fluid within a chamber, said chamber having a perimeter defined by a gasket, a top surface of a thermal conductive material in contact with said fluid, and a bottom surface of a thermal conductive material in contact with said fluid,
- cooling said matrix-forming fluid under conditions to produce a matrix having substantially symmetric reticulations and uniform thickness,
- dehydrating the matrix, and
- physically crosslinking the matrix.
An apparatus for casting a biologically compatible matrix, said apparatus comprising
- a matrix forming chamber forming an open box with five joined surfaces and a separate sixth surface attachable to said open box to form a closed box, the chamber capable of containing a matrix-forming fluid within spacers having a substantially uniform thickness between a top surface of a thermal conductive material and a bottom surface of a thermal conductive material,
- a coolant chamber sized to contain said matrix-forming chamber on at least said top and bottom surfaces and having at least one fluid channel and at least one fluid port within each of said top and bottom surfaces, and
- fasteners to effect a liquid-tight seal among at least the five joined surfaces.
A method for producing a biocompatible matrix for a cultured skin device comprising
- providing a matrix-forming fluid within gaskets having a substantially uniform thickness and defining a perimeter of a chamber, said gaskets positioned between a top thermally conductive surface in contact with said fluid and a bottom thermally conductive surface in contact with said fluid,
- freezing the fluid to form a solid sheet,
- dehydrating the solid sheet to form a biocompatible matrix, and
- physically crosslinking the matrix.
A biocompatible matrix having substantially symmetric reticulations, said matrix prepared by
- providing a matrix-forming fluid to an apparatus wherein the fluid is contained between a first thermally conductive surface and a second thermally conductive surface and has a substantially uniform thickness,
- cooling the fluid at a controlled rate to simultaneously remove heat from said first and second surfaces to form a solid sheet,
- dehydrating the solid sheet to form the matrix, and
- physically crosslinking the matrix,
- said matrix capable of supporting cells inoculated thereon.
The matrix of claim 21 wherein cooling is at a rate to effect a decrease in temperature from about 4° C. to about −70° C. at a time up to about two hours.
An apparatus for forming a biocompatible reticulated matrix comprising
- a bottom frame;
- a top frame having an undersurface of a thermally conductive material,
- a center frame capable of being fastened between the bottom and top frames, the center frame having an oversurface of a thermally conductive material and capable of containing a matrix-forming fluid thereon within spacer gaskets capable of regulating a thickness of a matrix formed from said matrix-containing fluid, and
- fasteners to fasten the bottom and top frames with the center frame there between,
- said apparatus capable of transferring heat at a rate to effect controlled freezing of the matrix-forming fluid to form the matrix.
A method for producing a biocompatible matrix comprising
- providing a matrix-forming fluid comprising collagen between a first thermally conductive surface of a chamber and a second thermally conductive and within a perimeter defined by a gasket of substantially uniform thickness,
- cooling the matrix-forming fluid to form a solid uncrosslinked sheet having a substantially uniform thickness by freezing at a controlled rate, and
- dehydrating the solid sheet to form the matrix, and
- physically crosslinking the matrix.
An apparatus for casting a biologically compatible matrix, said apparatus comprising a metal chamber forming an open chamber with five joined surfaces and a separate sixth surface attachable to said open chamber to form a closed chamber containing a matrix-forming fluid,
- spacers to space the first and second surfaces and thereby regulate a thickness of a matrix resulting from freezing of the matrix-forming fluid, and
- fasteners to effect a liquid-tight seal among at least the five joined surfaces.
A method for producing a biocompatible matrix for a replacement skin device comprising
- providing a collagen-containing matrix-forming fluid between a first thermally conductive surface of a closed chamber and a second thermally conductive surface of the closed chamber,
- freezing the sheet to form a solid uncrosslinked sheet having a substantially uniform thickness,
- dehydrating the solid sheet to form the matrix, and
- physically crosslinking the matrix,
- said matrix capable of supporting a lamination layer of cultured dermal cells for a layer of cultured epidermal cells applied thereon.
A biocompatible matrix having substantially uniform and substantially symmetric reticulations, said matrix prepared by
- providing a matrix-forming fluid to an apparatus wherein the fluid is contained between a first thermally conductive surface and a second thermally conductive surface and within a perimeter defined by a gasket of substantially uniform thickness,
- cooling the fluid at a controlled rate to simultaneously remove heat from said first and second surfaces form a solid sheet having a substantially uniform thickness,
- dehydrating the solid sheet to form the matrix, and
- physically crosslinking the matrix,
- said matrix capable of supporting cells inoculated thereon.
An apparatus for controlled rate freezing of a matrix-forming fluid comprising a closed chamber defined by at least a top and bottom surface of a heat conductive material, said chamber containing said fluid, said heat conductive material symmetrically removing heat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.