Bioreactors for tubular organs
AssigneeGeorgia Regents Research Institute, Inc.
InventorsPaul Weinberger, Hunter Faircloth, Donald Mettenburg, Frederick Rueggeberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a bioreactor includes a cartridge adapted to deliver growth media to inner and outer surfaces of a tubular organ scaffold, the cartridge having a container that includes a first passage adapted to deliver a first growth medium to the inner surfaces of the tubular organ scaffold and a second passage adapted to deliver a second growth medium to the outer surfaces of the scaffold, wherein the first and second growth media are different media.
Claims22
A bioreactor cartridge adapted to deliver growth media to inner and outer surfaces of a tubular organ scaffold, the cartridge comprising:
- a container including a first passage adapted to deliver a first growth medium to the inner surfaces of the tubular organ scaffold and a second passage adapted to deliver a second growth medium to the outer surfaces of the scaffold, wherein the first and second growth media are different media.
A bioreactor cartridge comprising:
- an elongated tube;
- a first end cap that seals a first end of the tube;
- a second end cap that seals a second end of the tube, the second end cap comprising a first hub that faces the first end cap;
- and
- a medial separator provided in the tube between the first and second end caps having a second hub that faces the first hub of the second end cap, the separator dividing the tube into a first compartment and a second compartment, the first and second hubs being contained in the second compartment;
- wherein the first and second hubs are adapted to receive opposite ends of a tubular organ scaffold to which growth media is to be applied, inner surfaces of the scaffold defining an inner chamber in which a first growth medium can circulate and outer surfaces of the scaffold defining an outer chamber in which a second growth medium can circulate.
A bioreactor comprising:
- a bioreactor cartridge including a first passage adapted to deliver a first growth medium to the inner surfaces of the tubular organ scaffold and a second passage adapted to deliver a second growth medium to the outer surfaces of the scaffold, wherein the first and second growth media are different media;
- and
- a drive station that can removably receive the bioreactor cartridge, the drive station being adapted to rotate the bioreactor cartridge to circulate the growth media within the cartridge.
A method for growing a tubular organ for implantation within a patient, the method comprising:
- mounting ends of a tubular organ scaffold to opposed hubs within a bioreactor cartridge, inner surfaces of the scaffold defining an inner chamber and outer surfaces of the scaffold defining an outer chamber;
- providing a first growth medium in a first compartment of the bioreactor cartridge;
- connecting the first compartment with the inner chamber so that the first growth medium can travel between the first compartment and the outer chamber;
- providing a second growth medium in the inner chamber;
- and
- rotating the bioreactor cartridge so as to circulate the first growth medium between the first compartment and the inner chamber and to circulate the second growth medium in the outer chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.