A device for attaching surgical sutures in a tissue-engineered bioreactor

Abstract

This utility model relates to biotechnology and tissue engineering. It comprises a device for attaching surgical sutures, which rotates with a motor within the chamber of a bioreactor with an aerosol supply of culture medium. The device comprises first and second frames, each designed as a closed loop. The planes of the frames are arranged at an angle to one another and are rigidly connected to form a spatial structure mounted so as to be able to rotate about a common axis. Fastening elements for securing and tensioning sutures with three-dimensional cellular structures (spheroids, organoids) or fragments of ground tissue placed thereon are provided along the perimeter of each frame. The technical result is to ensure uniform irrigation of the three-dimensional cellular structures with an aerosol of culture medium by fixing the sutures in intersecting planes and to increase the useful area for suture placement and the number of cellular aggregates per unit volume of the bioreactor. 3 c.p.F-ly, 2 years.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to biotechnology and tissue engineering and can be used to ensure three-dimensional arrangement and fixation of cellular spheroids, organoids and fragments of crushed tissue on surgical threads in a tissue-engineering bioreactor with an aerosol method of supplying a culture medium, as well as for the assembly and maturation of tissue-engineered structures.

[0002] Technology Level

[0003] A frame for attaching a tissue-engineered structure, located within the tank of a bioreactor with an aerosol delivery method for culture medium, is disclosed in RU 2814472 C1, published February 29, 2024. The device is a rotating frame designed as a closed loop lying in a single plane. The frame is mounted so that it can rotate around a central axis using a motor.

[0004] This frame does not allow for the simultaneous placement of surgical threads with three-dimensional cellular structures or fragments of chopped tissue in several planes oriented at an angle to each other around a common axis of rotation, which limits the useful area for placing threads and the uniformity of irrigation of cellular structures with aerosol.

[0005] Disclosure of Utility Model

[0006] The objective of the utility model is to develop a device that provides the ability to place three-dimensional cellular structures or fragments of chopped tissue, fixed on surgical threads, in the working space of a tissue-engineered bioreactor with the ability to rotate in two mutually intersecting planes in the working space (container) of the tissue-engineered bioreactor with the ability to rotate.

[0007] The technical result of the utility model is to ensure uniform irrigation of three-dimensional cellular and tissue structures with an aerosol of a culture medium by fixing threads in intersecting planes and increasing the useful area for placing threads in a unit volume of a bioreactor.

[0008] The stated technical result is achieved by a device for securing surgical sutures in a tissue-engineered bioreactor comprising a first frame and a second frame, each designed as a closed loop. The first and second frames are rigidly connected and mounted so as to rotate around a common axis. The plane of the first frame is positioned at an angle to the plane of the second frame. Attachment elements for securing and tensioning surgical sutures with three-dimensional cellular structures placed on them are located along the perimeter of each frame.

[0009] In a particular embodiment of the utility model, the plane of the first frame is located perpendicular to the plane of the second frame.

[0010] The fastening elements are made in the form of a plurality of threaded holes located along the perimeter of the frames, and fastening units, each of which contains a screw and a pressure washer, with the ability to interact with the said threaded holes.

[0011] On the outer side of the device there is an element for fastening to the shaft of the bioreactor electric motor, containing mounting holes.

[0012] Terms and Definitions

[0013] Definitions of certain terms used in this specification are provided below. Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms in this application have the standard meanings generally accepted in the scientific and technical literature.

[0014] In this description and in the claims of the utility model, the terms "includes," "including," "includes," "having," "provided with," "containing," and their other grammatical forms are not intended to be interpreted in an exclusive sense, but, on the contrary, are used in a non-exclusive sense (i.e., in the sense of "having in its composition"). Only expressions of the type "consisting of" should be considered as an exhaustive list.

[0015] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. are used in the present description and formula solely as conventional designations to distinguish elements of the same type (for example, frames) and do not indicate the order of arrangement, priority, or other quantitative or qualitative characteristics, unless otherwise directly follows from the context.

[0016] Tissue-engineered bioreactor is a regenerative medicine device designed for 3D cultivation of cells and tissue-engineered constructs outside a living organism in a controlled artificial environment that ensures the maintenance of cell viability and conditions for their growth and proliferation, and for the maturation of the tissue-engineered construct.

[0017] Tissue engineering bioreactor with aerosol delivery of culture nutrient medium - a tissue engineering bioreactor in which the supply of nutrient medium to cultured cells is carried out in the form of an aerosol of finely atomized culture nutrient medium suspended in the gas phase of the bioreactor's working space.

[0018] Three-dimensional cellular structures is a collective term encompassing cellular spheroids, organoids, and other multicellular aggregates and constructs derived from primary cell cultures, cell lines, and stem cells that maintain viability and regenerative potential in vitro and in vivo. In the context of this utility model, three-dimensional cellular structures are placed on surgical sutures.

[0019] Minced tissue is a fragment of native tissue obtained by mechanical grinding (cutting), preserving the extracellular matrix architecture and intercellular interactions. It is used in regenerative medicine and cell biology as a source of primary cells or as micrografts.

[0020] Tissue-engineered construct - a three-dimensional structure containing three-dimensional cellular structures (spheroids, organoids) or fragments of minced tissue placed on surgical threads and intended to form living tissue equivalents.

[0021] Brief description of drawings

[0022] The utility model will be more understandable from the description, which is not limiting in nature and is provided with references to the attached drawings, which show:

[0023] Fig. 1 - device (front view).

[0024] Fig. 2 - device inside the working space (container) of the bioreactor.

[0025] Implementation of a utility model

[0026] The device for attaching surgical sutures is a structural component of a tissue-engineering bioreactor, comprising first and second frames designed to secure and tension surgical sutures with three-dimensional cellular structures placed thereon. The frame is rotatably mounted within the bioreactor's working space. Fragments of minced tissue may also be placed on the surgical sutures. However, the object placed on the surgical sutures is not the subject matter of this utility model.

[0027] The frame is a structural element of the device, made in the form of a closed contour (for example, rectangular), along the perimeter of which there are fastening elements for fixing surgical threads.

[0028] The fastening element is a structural element of the frame designed to fix and tension surgical sutures, and includes a threaded hole made in the frame body and a fastening unit consisting of a screw and a pressure washer.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, the device comprises a first frame (1) and a second frame (2), designed as closed contours. The frames (1 and 2) are rigidly connected to each other, with the plane of the first frame located at an angle to the plane of the second frame. The angle between the planes of the first and second frames can be varied depending on the specific cultivation task. The design of the device allows for rigid fixation of the frames at any required angle in the range from 30° to 90°. The choice of this range is based on experimentally confirmed data: at an angle of less than 30°, the threads located in different planes are excessively close together, which leads to the shielding of part of the three-dimensional cellular structures from the aerosol flow; at an angle of more than 90°, the device loses compactness, and the useful volume of the bioreactor is used inefficiently.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the frame planes is 90° (mutually perpendicular). This configuration ensures maximum filling of the bioreactor's working volume and enables the creation of orthogonal cross-linked filament structures, which is particularly important when forming complex tissue-engineered constructs that require uniform distribution of three-dimensional cellular structures.

[0031] In experimental studies, positive results were obtained at angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°, confirming the device's operability across its entire stated range. Those skilled in the art will recognize that intermediate angles (e.g., 40°, 50°, 70°, 80°) also ensure the technical result is achieved, as the key feature—the placement of the surgical sutures in intersecting planes—is maintained.

[0032] Along the perimeter of each frame (1, 2) are threaded holes (3). To secure and tension the surgical sutures in these holes, a fastening unit consisting of a screw (4) with a semicircular head and a Phillips head and a rectangular flat pressure washer (5) is used. The number of fastening units used simultaneously may be less than the total number of threaded holes and corresponds to the number of sutures to be secured. However, the screws and washers can be installed in any threaded holes along the perimeter of the frames, depending on the desired suture tension pattern.

[0033] On the outer side of the device there is a fastening element (6) to the electric motor shaft, made in the form of a flange with mounting holes for rigid fixation of the device on the shaft.

[0034] The device is used as follows.

[0035] Under sterile conditions, surgical sutures with three-dimensional cellular structures (spheroids, organoids, etc.) or fragments of minced tissue placed on them are prepared. The sutures are secured to frames (1, 2) using fastening elements. To do this, the free end of the suture is folded over the edge of the frame, inserted under the washer (5), and secured with a screw (4) in the threaded hole (3). The suture is pulled taut with the required force, after which the opposite end is similarly secured in another threaded hole located on the opposite side of the same frame. Due to the placement of threaded holes along the entire perimeter of the frames, the sutures can be stretched in various directions within the plane of each frame, as well as parallel to each other, which allows for contact between adjacent three-dimensional cellular structures.

[0036] After all the threads are secured, the device is installed in the working tank (7) of the bioreactor (Fig. 2). To do this, the mounting element is aligned with the electric motor shaft and secured with screws through the mounting holes, ensuring a rigid connection. The tank (7) is then sealed.

[0037] Next, the gas mixture supply system and the culture medium aerosol supply system are connected to the bioreactor. The device's rotation drive is turned on. As it rotates, the device, with attached threads carrying three-dimensional cellular structures, moves uniformly within the vessel. The culture medium aerosol, supplied to the working space, is uniformly deposited on the three-dimensional cellular structures, located in two intersecting planes, ensuring their effective nutrition and gas exchange.

[0038] Cultivation is carried out for the time required for the tissue engineering construct to mature.

[0039] The utility model was disclosed above with reference to a specific embodiment. Other embodiments of the utility model that do not alter its essence may be obvious to specialists. Accordingly, the utility model should be considered limited in scope only by the following formula.

Claims

1. A device for fastening surgical threads in a tissue-engineered bioreactor with an aerosol method of supplying a culture medium, comprising a first frame and a second frame, each of which is made in the form of a closed loop, wherein the first and second frames are rigidly connected to each other and installed with the possibility of rotation around a common axis, wherein the plane of the first frame is located at an angle to the plane of the second frame, and along the perimeter of each of the frames there are fastening elements for fixing and tensioning surgical threads with three-dimensional cellular structures placed on them.

2. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the plane of the first frame is located perpendicular to the plane of the second frame.

3. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the fastening elements are made in the form of threaded holes located along the perimeter of the frames, and fastening units, each of which contains a screw and a pressure washer, with the possibility of interaction with the said threaded holes.

4. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that on the outer side of the device there is an element for fastening to the shaft of the bioreactor electric motor, containing fastening holes.

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