Prosthetic meniscus
OwnerKevin R. Stoneinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A prosthetic meniscus is disclosed which can be implanted in a humanoid knee, and which can act as a scaffold for regrowth of native meniscal tissues. The meniscus comprises a three dimensional array of collagen fibers interspersed with glycosaminoglycan molecules. The collagen fibers are present at a concentration of about 65 to 98 percent by dry weight, and the glycosaminoglycan molecules are present at a concentration of about 1 to 25 percent by dry weight. Crosslinks are provided by at least a portion of the glycosaminoglycan molecules, and may consist of at least one of the group comprising chondroitan 4-sulfate, chondroitan 6-sulfate, keritan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid.
Claims12
A prosthetic meniscus comprising a porous dry volume matrix of Type I collagen fibers interspersed with glycosaminoglycan molecules, wherein said matrix has a substantially wedge shape including a wide central region between two narrow distal tip regions, wherein said collagen fibers are present at a concentration of about 65%-98% by dry weight, wherein said glycosaminoglycan molecules are present at a concentration of about 1%-25% by dry weight, and wherein at least a portion of said molecules provide glycosaminoglycan crosslinks between said collagen fibers, said crosslinks being dispersed substantially nonuniformly throughout said matrix, and said crosslinks having relatively high density at said tip regions and relatively low density at said central region, and wherein said matrix has a pore size substantially in the range 10-50 microns, whereby said matrix establishes an at least partially bioresorbable scaffold adapted for ingrowth of meniscal fibrochondrocytes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.