Bioerodible matrix for tissue involvement

Abstract

Disclosed herein are polyurethane polymer matrices with a porosity of from about 20 microns to about 90 microns that are useful in promoting closure and protection of incision sites; supporting the lower pole position of breast implants; and providing a partial or complete covering of breast implants to provide a beneficial interface with host tissue and to reduce the potential for malpositioning or capsular contracture. The disclosed matrices can be seeded with mammalian cells.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application 61 / 164,344, filed Mar. 27, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to medical implants for reconstruction, augmentation and / or wound healing and more specifically relates to such implants including a polymer component and a cellular component.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Often following damage such as a surgical incision, skin can benefit from additional support to promote wound healing. This is in part because spontaneous recovery can require a long period of time and pain can continue throughout the repair process.[0004]Repair of soft tissue defects also is critical following reconstructive and augmentative surgeries. For example, more than 250,000 reconstructive procedures are performed on the breast each year. Women afflicted with breast cancer, congenital defects or damage r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Advantageously, the present implants are structured to be useful in conjunction with traditional breast implants, for example, for supporting the lower pole position of breast implants. Further, the present implants may be used to provide a partial or complete covering of breast implants, for example, traditional or conventional breast implants. In this case, the present implants may be effective in providing a beneficial interface with host tissue thereby reducing the potential for malpositioning or capsular contracture.

[0010]The matrices may be porous. For example, in some embodiments, the matrices have a porosity of between about 20 microns and about 350 microns. The porous matrices can be seeded with stem cells or progenitor cells prior to or during implantation in the body. When seeded with cells, the matrices may have an enhanced effectiveness in replacement thereof with the patient's own viable tissue.

[0011]There are many potential particular uses of the disclosed matrices. The disclosed matrices can promote wound healing and soft tissue reconstruction or augmentation by providing strength and covering for incisions and / or by providing support and a substrate for tissue in-growth and for growth of cells seeded on the matrix. Particularly, the disclosed matrices can comprise interconnecting cells or a fibrous network with enough strength to provide closure and protection of incision sites. The matrices can also support the lower pole position of breast implants or be used for mastopexy. Additionally the matrices can be used as a partial or complete covering of breast implants to provide a beneficial interface with host tissue and to reduce the potential for malpositioning or capsular contracture.

[0015]The matrices can also be involved in a method of providing a beneficial interface between host tissue and a prostheses, for example, a breast implant. In some embodiments, the matrices are structured to be effective to reduce the potential for malpositioning or capsular contracture of breast implants. For example, methods are provided for augmenting or reconstructing a human breast, the methods generally comprising: providing a partial or complete covering of breast implants wherein the partial or complete covering comprises a matrix comprising a polymer, for example, a porous polymer as described elsewhere herein, and the porous polymer being seeded with viable cellular material. In some embodiments, the matrix is a wrap-like configuration on a conventional silicone or saline filled conventional breast implant. The methods may further comprise the step of seeding the matrix with viable cellular material prior to or during implantation.

Problems solved by technology

This is in part because spontaneous recovery can require a long period of time and pain can continue throughout the repair process.

Women afflicted with breast cancer, congenital defects or damage resulting from trauma have very few alternatives to reconstruction.

These current materials used to promote wound healing or for soft tissue reconstruction or augmentation, however, still suffer from shortcomings such as suboptimal volume retention, donor site morbidity, and in some instances, continued poor biocompatibility.