Engineered muscle
AssigneeVirginia Commonwealth University Intellectual Property Foundation
InventorsGary L. Bowlin, Gary Wnek, David G. Simpson, Louis Terracio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A muscle implant includes an extracellular matrix, tendon and muscle cells. The extracellular matrix is made of a matrix of electrospun polymer fibers. The tendon is made of extruded collagen fibers and the muscle cells are disposed on the extracellular matrix in such a manner that the combination of components will functionally and structurally act as normal muscle tissue. Cardiac and smooth muscles may be similarly formed without tendons but including the extracellular matrix and muscle cells.
Claims12
A muscle implant comprising:
- an extracellular matrix for supporting muscle,
- a tendon comprising extruded fibers,
- a muscle cell layer, and
- an oriented layer of collagen deposited onto the extracellular matrix wherein the muscle cells are disposed onto the oriented layer of collagen.
A muscle implant comprising an extracellular matrix for supporting muscle, a muscle cell layer, and an oriented layer of collagen deposited onto the extracellular matrix wherein the muscle cells are disposed onto the oriented layer of collagen.
A method of forming a muscle implant comprising:
- providing a fascial sheath,
- depositing a layer of collagen on the fascial sheath,
- laminating a tendon onto the fascial sheath, and
- depositing muscle cells onto the collagen.
A method of layering muscle cells on an extracellular matrix comprising:
- providing an extracellular matrix,
- placing the extracellular matrix inside a rotating wall bioreactor,
- loading a culture medium into the bioreactor wherein the medium comprises muscle cells, and
- running the bioreactor until muscle cells attach to the extracellular matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.