Retinal cell grafts and instrument for implanting

Abstract

Surgical instruments, surgical techniques, retinal cell grafts, retinal cell and tissue isolation techniques, and a method for transplanting retinal cells, including photoreceptors, and / or retinal pigment epithelium, with the cells in the isolated tissue having their normal cell to cell configuration are disclosed.

Description

PRIORITY INFORMATION [0001] This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 10 / 323,958, filed Dec. 17, 2002, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 09 / 411,122 filed Oct. 4, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,256, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 08 / 322,735, filed Oct. 13, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,027, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07 / 566,996 filed Aug. 13, 1990, abandoned, which is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 07 / 394,377, filed Aug. 14, 1989, abandoned, all of which are incorporated by reference as if reproduced in full below.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates in general to surgical instruments, surgical techniques, and cell and tissue isolation techniques. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a surgical tool for transplanting retinal cells, epithelium and choroidea within their normal planar configuration, a graft for transplantation to the subretinal region of the eye, a method for preparing such grafts for transplantation, and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for preparing a graft for transplantation to the subretinal area of a host eye, which involves harvesting cells from a donor eye and maintaining them in a way that preserves their organization and cellular polarity. The graft is a laminate of a non-toxic and flexible composition that can be positioned accurately in the eye and protect the cells from damage during surgery. The graft can also contain a population of photoreceptor cells, which can facilitate regrowth of the retina and restore its function. The invention also provides a surgical tool for the transplantation of the graft and a kit for the preparation of the graft and surgery.

Problems solved by technology

In an effort to recover what was previously thought to be an irreparably injured retina, researchers have suggested various forms of grafts and transplantation techniques, none of which constitute an effective manner for reconstructing a dystrophic retina.

However, this method destroys the cellular polarity and native organization of the donor retinal pigment epithelium which is desirable for transplants.

While del Cerro reports that the intraocular transplantation of retinal strips can survive, he notes that the procedure has some definite limitations.

For instance, his techniques do not allow for the replacement of just the missing cells (e.g. photoreceptors) but always include a mixture of retinal cells.

Thus, with such a transplant appropriate reconstruction of the dystrophic retina that lacks a specific population of cells (e.g., photoreceptors) is not possible.

Furthermore, no means of isolating and purifying any given population of retinal cells (e.g. photoreceptors) from other retinal cells was demonstrated.

This conclusion is based on the well known optical characteristics of photoreceptors (outer segments act as light guides) and clinical evidence showing that folds or similar, even minor disruptions in the retinal geometry can severely degrade visual acuity.

Images