US 2016/0250043 A1 · Device and method for perfusing porous biomaterials with biological liquids

Abstract

A device for perfusing porous biomaterials with biological liquids includes a tubular body with an axial cavity defining a perfusion chamber for containing a porous biocompatible material, a connector at a distal end of the tubular body for receiving a perfusion liquid, a plunger having a distal end slidably movable in the cavity to withdraw air from the biomaterial, a vent for releasing the air withdrawn from the biomaterial and contained in the chamber, and a filter permitting selective passage of the air contained in the chamber toward the vent, while preventing leakage of the liquid to the outside. An air collector communicates with the chamber and the vent, and a control unit is associated with the plunger and designed to be actuated by the user to control the air flow from the air collector to the vent. A method of perfusing porous biomaterials with biological liquids.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A device for perfusing porous biomaterials with biological liquids, comprising:

a tubular body (2) with an axial cavity (3) defining a perfusion chamber (4) for containing a porous biomaterial (P);
a connector (8) located at a distal end (7) of said tubular body (2) for introducing a perfusion liquid (L) therein;
a plunger (11) having a distal end (12) slidably movable in said cavity (3) to withdraw air from the biomaterial (P) to be perfused;
a vent (18) for releasing the air withdrawn from the biomaterial (P) and contained in said chamber (4) to an outside;
a filter (29) for permitting selective passage of the air contained in said chamber (4) toward said vent (18), while preventing leakage of the liquid (L) to the outside;
and
an air collector (31), which communicates with said chamber (4) and said vent (18), a control unit (33) being associated with said plunger (11) and designed to be actuated by a user to control air flow from said collector (31) to said vent (18).

4 more elements

A method of perfusing porous biomaterials (P) with biological liquids (L), comprising the steps of:

a) providing a tubular body (2) with an inner cavity (3) defining a perfusion chamber (4);
b) positioning a porous biomaterial (P) in said chamber (4);
c) filling said chamber (4) with a perfusion liquid (L);
d) introducing an axially movable plunger (11), having an axial through hole (20), into said cavity (3);
e) accommodating a stem (21) in said hole (20), with a predetermined clearance to define an air collection space (32) communicating with said chamber (4) and with an outside and having a control unit (33) controlling communication with the outside;
f) positioning said stem (21), relative to said plunger (11), in a forward locking position to prevent passage of air from the air collection space (32) to the outside;
g) reciprocating the stem-plunger assembly in locked relationship to create repeated suctions and compressions in said chamber (4) and promote separation of air bubbles from the liquid and conveyance thereof toward said air collection space (32);
h) positioning said stem (21) relative to said plunger (11) in a backward unlocking position to permit communication of said air space (32) with the outside and release the air collected therein;
i) repeating steps g) and h) as many times as required for an approximately complete removal of air from pores of the porous biomaterial (P) and filling of the porous biomaterial with the perfusion liquid (L);
j) draining the liquid (L) from the perfusion chamber (4);
and
k) opening the perfusion chamber (4) and removing the completely treated porous material (P).

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device and method for perfusing porous biomaterials with biological liquids

Life of this patent

Device and method for perfusing porous biomaterials with biological liquids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15