Device and methods for in vivo culturing of diverse tissue cells

Functionally specific device for facilitating healing of voids in tissue comprising a structure made from a biocompatible material providing an internal three-dimensional architecture comprising a plurality of elongated chambers, with each of the elongated chambers having a diameter and a length, with the length being no less than two times the diameter of the chamber;

• wherein at least a portion of the structure includes a physiologically acceptable surfactant in an amount sufficient to draw fluid into the structure to liberate a quantity of surfactant sufficient to facilitate penetration of the fluid into a portion of the structure not containing surfactant.

Functionally specific device for facilitating healing of voids in tissue comprising a structure made from a biocompatible material providing an internal three-dimensional architecture comprising a plurality of elongated chambers, with each of the elongated chambers having a diameter and a length, with the length being no less than two times the diameter of the chamber;

• wherein the structure includes a first portion having incorporated a fluid extractable plasticizer providing temporary flexibility during implantation and includes a second portion which is substantially free of the plasticizer.

Functionally specific device for facilitating healing of voids in tissue comprising a structure made from a biocompatible material providing an internal three-dimensional architecture comprising a plurality of elongated chambers, with each of the elongated chambers having a diameter and a length, with the length being no less than two times the diameter of the chamber;

• wherein the structure includes a first portion having a biologically active agent and includes a second portion which is substantially free of the biologically active agent.

A method of healing and tissue regeneration comprising contacting the tissue to be healed and regenerated with a functionally specific device for facilitating healing of voids in tissue comprising a structure made from a biocompatible material providing an internal three-dimensional architecture comprising a plurality of elongated chambers, with each of the elongated chambers having a diameter and a length, with the length being no less than two times the diameter of the chamber;

• wherein the device is disposed externally to the tissue sought to be repaired to prevent undamaged tissue from interfering with the tissue sought to be repaired.

Bioresorbable device comprising, in combination:

• first and second portions;
• and a physiologically acceptable surfactant engaged with the first portion and the second portion being initially substantially free of the surfactant, with the initial concentration of the surfactant in the first portion being effective to preclude surfactant from being drawn into the second portion, with the initial concentration of the surfactant in the first portion being effective to permit surfactant to be drawn into the second portion when fluid is eventually drawn into the first portion such that the fluid is eventually drawn into the second portion.

Bioresorbable device for implantation into a body having body fluids comprising, in combination:

• a structure made from a biocompatible material;
• and a fluid extractable plasticizer incorporated in the structure, with the plasticizer permitting the structure to be initially flexible during implantation, with the plasticizer being extractable from the structure by the body fluids after implantation whereby the structure is rendered less flexible.