Method and apparatus for creating a modified tissue graft
AssigneeCellTherX
InventorBarry Markman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method of creating a modified tissue graft, at least one exterior surface of a graft is modified by compressing, cutting and/or removing one or more portions thereof, such as to create designed surface features which cause the tissue graft to have characteristics for a specific anatomical area. The modified tissue graft may include a medicated graft, such as by associating medicants with the surface features, or by associating a second graft or layer with a modified base tissue graft layer, where medicants are associated with the second graft or layer. The tissue graft may be modified by pressing a specially configured template or die, such as having blades thereon, into the tissue graft, such as to create a pattern of partial depth cuts.
Claims20
A method of creating a modified tissue graft for use at an anatomical site of a human body, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a tissue graft, said tissue graft having an exterior surface, said exterior surface comprising a top surface and a generally opposing bottom surface, said tissue graft having a thickness between said top surface and said bottom surface;
- and
- altering at least one of said top surface and said bottom surface of said tissue graft by compressing, cutting and/or removing one or more portions of said exterior surface of said tissue graft to create one or more designed surface features, said one or more designed surface features extending into said exterior surface of said tissue graft without extending through said thickness of said tissue graft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.