Method for making a prosthetic intervertebral disc
AssigneeReGen Corporation
InventorKevin R. Stone
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Abstract
A prosthetic intervertebral disc is disclosed which can be implanted in the human skeleton, and which can act as a scaffold for regrowth of intervertebral disc material. The disc includes a dry, porous, volume matrix of biocompatible and bioresorbable fibers which may be interspersed with glyscosaminoglycan molecules. The matrix is adapted to have in vivo an outer surface contour substantially the same as that of a natural intervertebral disc, whereby the matrix establishes an at least partially bioresorbable scaffold adapted for ingrowth of intervertebral fibrochondrocytes. Cross-links may be provided by a portion of the GAG molecules.
Claims16
A method for fabricating a prosthetic intervertebral disc comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a plurality of biocompatible and bioresorbable fibers into a mold such that said fibers assume the shape of said mold, said mold having a shape that enables disc function;
- (b) subjecting said fibers to a first and a second cycle of freezing and thawing;
- (c) contacting said fibers with a chemical cross-linking agent to cross-link said fibers;
- and
- (d) lyophilizing said cross-linked fibers,
- whereby said fibers form a dry porous volume matrix being adapted to have in vivo an outer surface contour substantially the same as that of the natural intervertebral disc,
- whereby said matrix establishes an at least partially bioresorbable scaffold adapted for ingrowth of vertebral fibrochondrocytes such that said scaffold and said ingrown vertebral fibrochondrocytes are capable of supporting natural intervertebral load forces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.