Directed tissue growth employing reduced pressure

An apparatus for growing a tissue, comprising:

• vacuum means for creating a sub-atmospheric pressure at a tissue to be grown;
• sealing means operatively associated with the vacuum means for maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the tissue by contacting the region surrounding the tissue;
• and
• a bone substitute material for positioning at the tissue within the sealing means and adapted to promote tissue growth therein.

An apparatus for growing a tissue, comprising:

• a bone substitute material configured to overlie a tissue to be grown;
• a fluid-impermeable cover overlying the bone substitute material, the cover adapted to form a seal with the region surrounding the tissue for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure beneath the cover;
• and
• a tubular member having a first end inserted within a portion of the bone substitute material and having a second end extending from beneath the cover to a location external to the cover for supplying sub-atmospheric pressure beneath the cover.

An apparatus for growing a tissue, comprising:

• vacuum means for creating a sub-atmospheric pressure at a tissue to be grown;
• sealing means operatively associated with the vacuum means for maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the tissue by contacting the region surrounding the tissue;
• and
• a bone substitute material for positioning at the tissue within the sealing means, the bone substitute material having a pore size sufficiently large to permit tissue growth therein.

An apparatus for growing a tissue comprising:

• a bone substitute material configured to overlie the tissue;
• a cover overlying the bone substitute material, the cover adapted to form a seal with the region surrounding the tissue for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure beneath the cover;
• a tubular member having a first end inserted within a portion of the bone substitute material and having a second end extending from beneath the cover to a location external to the cover;
• and
• a vacuum source connected with the second end of the tubular member for supplying the sub-atmospheric pressure to the tissue.

An apparatus for growing a tissue comprising:

• a bioabsorbable scaffold material configured to overlie the tissue, the scaffold material having a pore size sufficiently large to permit tissue growth therein;
• an open-cell foam section in communication with the scaffold material;
• a cover overlying the scaffold material and the foam section, the cover adapted to form a seal with the region surrounding the tissue for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure beneath the cover;
• and
• a tubular member having a first end inserted within a portion of the foam section and having a second end extending from beneath the cover to a location external to the cover for supplying the sub-atmospheric pressure beneath the cover.

An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to promote directed growth of a tissue comprising:

• (a) a cover adapted to cover and enclose a tissue to be grown and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the tissue;
• (b) a seal adapted to seal the cover about the tissue;
• (c) reduced pressure supply means for connection to a source of suction, the reduced pressure supply means cooperating with the cover to supply the reduced pressure beneath the cover;
• and
• (d) a bioabsorbable scaffold material for promoting tissue growth therein configured to be located between the tissue and the cover.

An apparatus for growing a tissue, comprising:

• vacuum means for creating a sub-atmospheric pressure at a tissue to be grown;
• sealing means operatively associated with the vacuum means for maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the tissue by contacting the region surrounding the tissue;
• and
• a bioabsorbable scaffold material for positioning at the tissue within the sealing means and adapted to promote tissue growth therein.

An apparatus for growing a tissue, comprising:

• a bioabsorbable scaffold material configured to overlie a tissue to be grown;
• an open-cell foam section in communication with the scaffold material;
• a fluid-impermeable cover overlying the scaffold material and the foam section, the cover adapted to form a seal with the region surrounding the tissue for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure beneath the cover;
• and
• a tubular member having a first end inserted within a portion of the foam section and having a second end extending from beneath the cover to a location external to the cover for supplying sub-atmospheric pressure beneath the cover.

An apparatus for growing a tissue, comprising:

• vacuum means for creating a sub-atmospheric pressure at a tissue to be grown;
• sealing means operatively associated with the vacuum means for maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the tissue by contacting the region surrounding the tissue;
• and
• a bioabsorbable scaffold material for positioning at the tissue within the sealing means, the scaffold material having a pore size sufficiently large to permit tissue growth therein.

An apparatus for growing a tissue comprising:

• a bioabsorbable scaffold material configured to overlie the tissue;
• a cover overlying the scaffold material, the cover adapted to form a seal with the region surrounding the tissue for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure beneath the cover;
• a tubular member having a first end inserted within a portion of the scaffold material and having a second end extending from beneath the cover to a location external to the cover;
• and
• a vacuum source connected with the second end of the tubular member for supplying the sub-atmospheric pressure to the tissue.

A method of growing a tissue comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a tissue growth medium proximate the tissue;
• (b) applying a sub-atmospheric pressure to a tissue to be grown;
• and
• (c) maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure until the tissue has progressed toward a selected stage of growth within the tissue growth medium.

A method for growing a tissue comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying a sub-atmospheric pressure to a tissue to be grown, wherein the applying step comprises the steps of:
• (i) placing a tissue growth medium in contact with a tissue to be grown;
• (ii) locating a cover over the tissue;
• (iii) sealing the periphery of the cover about the tissue;
• and
• (iv) operably connecting the cover with a vacuum system for producing the sub-atmospheric pressure;
• and
• (b) maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure until the tissue has progressed toward a selected stage of growth within the tissue growth medium.

A method for growing new bone tissue from existing bone tissue comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing a bone substitute material in contact with the existing bone tissue to provide a matrix in which to grow new bone tissue;
• (b) locating a cover over the existing bone tissue and the bone substitute material to form a sealed chamber at the bone tissue and the bone substitute material;
• (c) providing a subatmospheric pressure within the chamber;
• and
• (d) maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure within the chamber until new bone tissue of a desired amount is grown within the bone substitute material.