Tissue engineered nucleus pulposus replacement
AssigneeClemson University
InventorsDan Simionescu, Jeremy Mercuri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nucleus pulposus replacement is described that includes a containment balloon that can sequester synthetic and/or tissue engineered fill material(s) in the nucleus pulposus region of the IVD thus mitigating migration and expulsion of the fill materials. The containment balloon can be formed of a biocompatible material that includes the structural proteins elastin and collagen. The containment balloon is joined to a closure device that can be used to deliver a fill material, e.g., a hydrogel, to the interior of the containment balloon following implantation of the replacement device in the intervertebral disc area.
Claims32
A nucleus pulposus replacement comprising:
- a containment balloon, the containment balloon comprising multiple layered sheets, each of which including elastin and collagen;
- and
- a closure device, the closure device being joined to the containment balloon, the closure device including a one-way port for furnishing a fill material to an interior of the containment balloon.
A method for replacing nucleus pulposus tissue, the method comprising:
- removing nucleus pulposus tissue from an intervertebral disc to form a void in the intervertebral disc;
- and
- inserting a nucleus pulposus replacement into the void, the nucleus pulposus replacement comprising
- a containment balloon, the containment balloon comprising a sheet that includes elastin and collagen, and
- a closure device, the closure device being joined to the containment balloon, the closure device including a one-way port for furnishing a fill material to an interior of the containment balloon.
A nucleus pulposus replacement comprising:
- a containment balloon, the containment balloon comprising a sheet that includes elastin and collagen, the elastin being crosslinked with pentagalloyl glucose;
- and
- a closure device, the closure device being joined to the containment balloon, the closure device including a one-way port for furnishing a fill material to an interior of the containment balloon.
A nucleus pulposus replacement comprising:
- a containment balloon, the containment balloon comprising a sheet that includes elastin and collagen, wherein the containment balloon exhibits a compressive stress before failure of greater than about 1 MPa;
- and
- a closure device, the closure device being joined to the containment balloon, the closure device including a one-way port for furnishing a fill material to an interior of the containment balloon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.