Methods for making biopolymer sponge tubes
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorPaul W. Watt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides biopolymer sponge tubes closed at one end for use in surgery. The preferred biopolymer iscollagen. The biopolymer sponge tubes are prepared by forming an aqueous dispersion of the biopolymer, introducing the dispersion into tube-shaped moulds, freezing the dispersion in the moulds to form a shaped, aqueous dispersion, followed by freeze-drying the frozen aqueous dispersion. The tubes are fitted over endoscopic surgical staplers to provide improved sealing of stapled tissues, especially for air-tight sealing in lung resections.
Claims20
A method for producing biopolymer sponges comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an aqueous dispersion of the biopolymer;
- (b) introducing the dispersion into a mold;
- (c) freezing the dispersion to provide a shaped frozen dispersion;
- (d) heating the mold and releasing the shaped frozen dispersion from the mold;
- and
- (e) drying the released frozen dispersion.
A method for producing biopolymer sponges comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an aqueous dispersion of the biopolymer;
- (b) introducing the dispersion into a mold for making tubes;
- (c) freezing the dispersion to provide a shaved frozen dispersion;
- (d) heating the mold and releasing the shaved frozen dispersion from the mold;
- and
- (e) drying the released frozen dispersion;
- wherein the mold comprises an outer cylindrical shell having a distal closed end and proximal opened end a central block being disposed within the shell and resting on the distal closed end of the shell, whereby the block and shell form an annular space therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.