Bioabsorbable wound implant materials
AssigneeJohnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.
InventorsArthur L. Rosenthal, Nicholas D. Light, Paul W. Watt
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Abstract
Heteromorphic sponges are described which have matrix structures with oriented substructures added to facilitate cellular invasion. A sponge may be used as a wound implant by cutting it to the shape of a wound bed and placing therein. The matrix structure provides conduits which assist invasion of the sponge by cells which degrade the sponge and lay down new tissue to replace it. The incorporation of active agents in the matrix and/or substructures enhances wound healing.
Claims20
A method of preparing a bioabsorbable heteromorphic sponge comprising a matrix structure of sponge and at least one oriented, macroscopic, solid substructure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a gel, paste, slurry or emulsion of a first bioabsorbable material and a solvent;
- immersing the macroscopic solid substructure of a second bioabsorbable material in the gel, paste, slurry or emulsion;
- orienting the substructure in the gel, paste, slurry or emulsion whereby the substructure is anisotropic;
- and
- freeze-drying the gel, paste, slurry or emulsion, with the macroscopic substructure therein, to produce the bioabsorbable heteromorphic sponge;
- whereby the resulting sponge comprises the matrix structure of sponge with the macroscopic substructure being embedded the, rein and being anisotropic, thereby defining a scaffolding having preferred directions for cellular and tissue ingrowth into the sponge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.