A reconstructive structure for a cartilaginous element having a plurality of superimposed layers of a small intestine submucosa compressed and secured together and shaped to provide the multilayered reconstructive element of the anatomical shape of the cartilaginous element to be constructed. The method of forming the reconstructive structure includes superimposing the planar layers of the small intestine compressing, securing and cutting to the desired shape. The superimposing is performed so as to maintain the layers substantially planar prior to compressing and securing. The method of reconstructing a cartilaginous element includes removing at least a portion, if not substantially all of the cartilaginous element, but leaving a seed portion, sculpturing the reconstructive structure to the anatomical shape of the cartilaginous element to be reconstructed; positioning the receptive element adjacent to the seed portion and securing it thereto. To reconstruct a joint having two bones separated by a cartilaginous material, the method includes removing any remaining portions of the cartilaginous material down to a bleeding bone site and positioning and securing the reconstructive element to the bleeding bone site. A barrier layer may be provided between the bleeding bone site and the reconstruction element. Also, a defect site without a bleeding bone site may be created and used with a reconstructive element.
An easy-to-produce and mechanically strong tube of an implantable submucosal tissue has been developed which is manufactured in any desired length, wall thickness, or diameter. The construct produced by the method of the invention may be used as grafts for arteries, veins, ureters, urethras, shunts, or in any application where a compliant, tissue-compatible tube is needed. The manufacture of the submucosal tissue prosthesis generally involves wrapping a first sheet of submucosal tissue (60) and a second sheet of submucosal tissue (70) around a mandrel (50), wherein the first end (74) and the second opposite end (76) of the second sheet of submucosal tissue (70) are sutured together with sutures (78). The submucosal tissue is compressed and dried on the mandrel (50) before removing the construct by pulling on a first end (54) and a second end (56) of a water permeable tape to unwind the tape and thus release the construct for eventual use.
A method for preparing a human or animal tissue by applying a compressive force to a stack of sheets of living tissue thereby inducing adjacent layers to fuse or adhere to each other. The force is applied in direction normal to the surface of the tissue. A multi-layer tissue produced by the method described above can also possess at least two different types of sheets and/or consist essentially of between two and twelve sheets of living tissue. The method can also be used to prepare a planar tissue that can further be incorporated in a multi-layer tissue construct. The methods and tissues described herein are useful for the preparation of engineered tissues.
A reconstructive structure for a cartilaginous element having a plurality of superimposed layers of intestinal submucosa tissue compressed and secured together and shaped to provide a reconstructive structure having the anatomical shape of the cartilaginous element to be reconstructed is described. The method of forming the reconstructive structure includes superimposing the planar layers of the intestinal submucosa tissue, securing the layers to form a multi-layered structure and cutting the resulting multi-layered structure to the desired shape.
A system and method is provided in which natural bone removed during a joint surgery is retained along with the natural attachment of the associated soft tissues. For instance, in a hip surgery, a portion of the greater trochanter is removed while retaining the soft tissue attachments. An implant and the bone portion are provided with mating features, such as a keystone configuration. The keystone configuration can include mating male and female dovetail configurations. The bone portion can be engaged to the mating feature of the implant to support the natural bone and its soft tissue attachment in an anatomically appropriate position.
A bioprosthetic device is provided for soft tissue attachment, reinforcement, and or reconstruction. The device comprises a naturally occurring extracellular matrix portion and a synthetic portion. In illustrated embodiments, the naturally occurring extracellular matrix portion comprises layers of small intestine submucosa, and the synthetic portion comprises one or more rows of fibers or mesh positioned between layers of the small intestine submucosa.
