Porous extracellular matrix scaffold and method

A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• suspending pieces of a naturally occurring extracellular matrix material in a liquid;
• forming the pieces of the naturally occurring extracellular matrix and the liquid into a mass;
• and
• driving off the liquid so as to form interstices in the mass.

An implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, comprising:

• porous body which is prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
• suspending pieces of a naturally occurring extracellular matrix material in a liquid,
• forming the pieces of the extracellular matrix and the liquid into a mass, and
• driving off the liquid so as to form interstices in the mass.

A method of making an implantable device for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a naturally occurring extracellular matrix material in a raw form;
• comminuting the raw naturally occurring extracellular matrix in the presence of a liquid to form a slurry of naturally occurring extracellular matrix;
• and
• lyophilizing the slurry of naturally occurring extracellular matrix to form an open cell foam of naturally occurring extracellular matrix.

A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a naturally occurring bioremodelable collagenous tissue matrix in a raw form;
• comminuting the raw naturally occurring bioremodelable collagenous tissue matrix to form cohesive pieces of naturally occurring bioremodelable collagenous tissue matrix;
• and
• lyophilizing the cohesive pieces of naturally occurring bioremodelable collagenous tissue matrix to form a reticulated foam of naturally occurring bioremodelable collagenous tissue matrix.

A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a extracellular matrix material derived from tissue selected from the group consisting of:
• small intestine submucosa, stomach submucosa, bladder submucosa, respiratory submucosa, alimentary submucosa, genital submucosa, and liver basement membrane;
• physically comminuting the extracellular matrix to form cohesive pieces of extracellular matrix;
• and
• lyophilizing the cohesive pieces of extracellular matrix to form an open cell foam of extracellular matrix.

A method of making an implantable device for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a extracellular matrix material selected from the group consisting of:
• small intestine submucosa, stomach submucosa, bladder submucosa, respiratory submucosa, alimentary submucosa, genital submucosa, and liver basement membrane;
• and
• physically comminuting the extracellular matrix in the presence of a liquid to form a slurry of extracellular matrix.

A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an extracellular matrix material selected from the group consisting of:
• small intestine submucosa, stomach submucosa, bladder submucosa, respiratory submucosa, alimentary submucosa, genital submucosa, and liver basement membrane;
• suspending pieces of the extracellular matrix material in a liquid;
• and
• freeze drying the pieces of extracellular matrix material and the liquid.

A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an extracellular matrix material selected from the group consisting of:
• small intestine submucosa, stomach submucosa, bladder submucosa, respiratory submucosa, alimentary submucosa, genital submucosa and liver basement membrane;
• suspending pieces of the extracellular matrix material in a liquid;
• forming the pieces of the naturally occurring extracellular matrix and the liquid into a mass;
• and
• driving off the liquid so as to form interstices in the mass.

A method of treating defective cartilage in a joint of a patient comprising:

• providing an extracellular matrix material selected from the group consisting of:
• small intestine submucosa, stomach submucosa, bladder submucosa, respiratory submucosa, alimentary submucosa, genital submucosa, and liver basement membrane;
• forming the extracellular matrix material into a foam having a plurality of interconnected pores, at least part of the extracellular matrix having interconnected pores having a nominal pore size of between 30 and 100 microns;
• and
• implanting the foam at the joint of the patient.

A method of treating diseased or damaged bone comprising:

• providing an extracellular matrix material selected from the group consisting of:
• small intestine submucosa, stomach submucosa, bladder submucosa, respiratory submucosa, alimentary submucosa, genital submucosa, and liver basement membrane;
• forming the extracellular matrix material into a foam having a plurality of interconnected pores, the interconnected pores having an irregular shape and extending in three dimensions, at least part of the extracellular matrix having interconnected pores having a nominal pore size greater than 200 microns;
• and
• implanting the foam in the bone having the disease or damage.