Fiber-reinforced, porous, biodegradable implant device
AssigneeOsteoBiologics, Inc.
InventorsMichael Slivka, Gabriele G. Niederauer, Kristine Kieswetter, Neil C. Leatherbury
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber-reinforced, polymeric implant material useful for tissue engineering, and method of making same are provided. The fibers are preferably aligned predominantly parallel to each other, but may also be aligned in a single plane. The implant material comprises a polymeric matrix, preferably a biodegradable matrix, having fibers substantially uniformly distributed therein. In preferred embodiments, porous tissue scaffolds are provided which facilitate regeneration of load-bearing tissues such as articular cartilage and bone. Non-porous fiber-reinforced implant materials are also provided herein useful as permanent implants for load-bearing sites.
Claims8
A method of making a fiber-reinforced, porous, tissue scaffold implant material comprising fibers aligned predominantly in one direction, comprising:
- a. dissolving a polymer in a suitable organic solvent to form a solution;
- b. dispersing the fibers in a suitable non-solvent for the polymer to form a suspension;
- c. precipitating the polymer mixed with fibers as a coherent mass from solution by mixing the suspension and solution;
- d. kneading and rolling the coherent mass of fibers and polymer to orient the fibers predominantly parallel to each other;
- and
- e. applying heat and vacuum pressure to the mass to foam and cure it.
A method for making a non-porous, fiber-reinforced implant material comprising
- a. dissolving a polymer in a suitable organic solvent to form a solution;
- b. dispersing the fibers in a suitable non-solvent for the polymer to form a suspension;
- c. precipitating the polymer mixed with fibers as a coherent mass from solution by mixing the suspension and solution;
- d. kneading and rolling the coherent mass of fibers and polymer to orient the fibers predominantly parallel to each other;
- e. applying heat and vacuum pressure to the mass to foam and cure it;
- thereby producing a fiber-reinforced porous scaffold;
- and
- f. compression molding the porous scaffold of step e into a non-porous material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.