231 results about "Tissue construct" patented technology

A medical apparatus and method suitable for remodeling a mitral valve annulus adjacent to the coronary sinus. The apparatus comprises an elongate body having a proximal region and a distal region. Each of the proximal and distal regions is dimensioned to reside completely within the vascular system. The elongate body may be moved from a first configuration for transluminal delivery to at least a portion of the coronary sinus to a second configuration for remodeling the mitral valve annulus proximate the coronary sinus. A forming element may be attached to the elongate body for manipulating the elongate body from the first transluminal configuration to the second remodeling configuration. Further, the elongate body may comprise a tube having a plurality of transverse slots therein.

Novel products comprising conditioned cell culture medium compositions and methods of use are described. The conditioned cell medium compositions of the invention may be comprised of any known defined or undefined medium and may be conditioned using any eukaryotic cell type. The medium may be conditioned by stromal cells, parenchymal cells, mesenchymal stem cells, liver reserve cells, neural stem cells, pancreatic stem cells and / or embryonic stem cells. Additionally, the cells may be genetically modified. A three-dimensional tissue construct is preferred. Once the cell medium of the invention is conditioned, it may be used in any state. Physical embodiments of the conditioned medium include, but are not limited to, liquid or solid, frozen, lyophilized or dried into a powder. Additionally, the medium is formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as a vehicle for internal administration, applied directly to a food item or product, formulated with a salve or ointment for topical applications, or, for example, made into or added to surgical glue to accelerate healing of sutures following invasive procedures. Also, the medium may be further processed to concentrate or reduce one or more factors or components contained within the medium.

A stromal cell-based three-dimensional cell culture system is prepared which can be used to culture a variety of different cells and tissues in vitro for prolonged periods of time. The stromal cells and connective tissue proteins naturally secreted by the stromal cells attach to and substantially envelope a framework composed of a biocompatible non-living material formed into a three-dimensional structure having interstitial spaces bridged by the stromal cells. The living stromal tissue so formed provides the support, growth factors, and regulatory factors necessary to sustain long-term active proliferation of cells in culture and / or cultures implanted in vivo. When grown in this three-dimensional system, the proliferating cells mature and segregate properly to form components of adult tissues analogous to counterparts in vivo, which can be utilized in the body as a corrective tissue. For example, and not by way of limitation, the three-dimensional cultures can be used to form tubular tissue structures, like those of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, as well as blood vessels; tissues for hernia repair and / or tendons and ligaments; etc.

Surgical systems for less invasive access to and isolation of an atrial appendage are provided. A suturing grasper compresses soft tissue structures and deploys one or more sutures through complimentary pledget(s) carried by the grasper. The pledgets are reinforced, containing support members that define the profile of the stitch and distribute stresses applied by the stitch, once tightened, over a length of tissue. This hardware may be applicable to other surgical and catheter based applications as well including: compressing soft tissue structures lung resections and volume reductions; gastric procedures associated with reduction in volume, aneurysm repair, vessel ligation, or other procedure involving isolation of, resection of, and reduction of anatomic structures.

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to contract collagen fibers within the tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided for treating herniated or swollen discs within a patient's spine by applying sufficient electrical energy to the disc tissue to contract or shrink the collagen fibers within the nucleus pulposis. This causes the pulposis to shrink and withdraw from its impingement on the spinal nerve.

A minimally invasive surgical instrument for placing an implantable article about a tubular tissue structure is disclosed. The surgical instrument is particularly useful for treating urological disorders such as incontinence. Surgical methods using the novel instrument are also described.

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid or saline-rich tissue to contract collagen fibers within the tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided for contracting a portion of the nucleus pulposus of a vertebral disc by applying a high frequency voltage between an active electrode and a return electrode within the portion of the nucleus pulposus, where contraction of the portion of nucleus pulposus inhibits migration of the portion nucleus pulposus through the fissure.

The invention relates to cells or tissues having an increased amount of regulatory proteins, including cytokines, growth factors, angiogenic factors and / or stress proteins, and methods of producing and using those cells or tissues. The invention is based on the discovery that the production of regulatory proteins is induced in cells or tissue constructs following cryopreservation and subsequent thawing of the cells or constructs. The compositions and methods of this invention are useful for the treatment of wound healing and the repair and / or regeneration of other tissue defects including those of skin, cartilage, bone, and vascular tissue as well as for enhancing the culture and / or differentiation of cells and tissues in vitro.

A method and apparatus for identifying tissue structures in advance of a mechanical medical instrument during a medical procedure. A mechanical tissue penetrating medical instrument (22) has a distal end for penetrating tissue in a penetrating direction. An optical wavefront analysis system (32-50) provides light to illuminate tissue ahead of the medical instrument and receives light returned by tissue ahead of the medical instrument. An optical fiber (30) is coupled at a proximal end to the wavefront analysis system and attached at a distal end to the medical instrument proximate the distal end of the medical instrument. The distal end of the fiber has an illumination pattern directed substantially in the penetrating direction for illuminating the tissue ahead of the medical instrument and receiving light returned therefrom. The wavefront analysis system provides information about the distance from the distal end of the medical instrument to tissue features ahead of the medical instrument.

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to contract collagen fibers within the tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided for treating herniated or swollen discs within a patient's spine by applying sufficient electrical energy to the disc tissue to contract or shrink the collagen fibers within the nucleus pulposis. This causes the pulposis to shrink and withdraw from its impingement on the spinal nerve.

Methods and devices described herein facilitate improved treatment of body organs and relates to surgical instruments, useful in endoscopic, laparoscopic and / or open surgical procedures to effectively remove a suspect region of tissue such as a polyp, abnormal growth, cyst, tumor, lesion, or other abnormality from a base tissue structure.

A method and apparatus for identifying tissue structures in advance of a mechanical medical instrument during a medical procedure. A mechanical tissue penetrating medical instrument (22) has a distal end for penetrating tissue in a penetrating direction. An optical wavefront analysis system (32-50) provides light to illuminate tissue ahead of the medical instrument and receives light returned by tissue ahead of the medical instrument. An optical fiber (30) is coupled at a proximal end to the wavefront analysis system and attached at a distal end to the medical instrument proximate the distal end of the medical instrument. The distal end of the fiber has an illumination pattern directed substantially in the penetrating direction for illuminating the tissue ahead of the medical instrument and receiving light returned therefrom. The wavefront analysis system provides information about the distance from the distal end of the medical instrument to tissue features ahead of the medical instrument.

The present invention provides new methods for the in vitro preparation of bioartificial tissue equivalents and their enhanced integration after implantation in vivo. These methods include submitting a tissue construct to a biomimetic electrical stimulation during cultivation in vitro to improve its structural and functional properties, and / or in vivo, after implantation of the construct, to enhance its integration with host tissue and increase cell survival and functionality. The inventive methods are particularly useful for the production of bioartificial equivalents and / or the repair and replacement of native tissues that contain electrically excitable cells and are subject to electrical stimulation in vivo, such as, for example, cardiac muscle tissue, striated skeletal muscle tissue, smooth muscle tissue, bone, vasculature, and nerve tissue.

A stromal cell-based three-dimensional cell culture system is provided which can be used to culture a variety of different cells and tissues in vitro for prolonged periods of time. The stromal cells along with connective tissue proteins naturally secreted by the stromal cells attach to and substantially envelope a framework composed of a biocompatible non-living material formed into a three-dimensional structure having interstitial spaces bridged by the stromal cells. Living stromal tissue so formed provides support, growth factors, and regulatory factors necessary to sustain long-term active proliferation of cells in culture and / or cultures implanted in vivo. When grown in this three-dimensional system, the proliferating cells mature and segregate properly to form components of adult tissues analogous to counterparts in vivo, which can be utilized in the body as a corrective tissue. The three-dimensional cultures can be used to form tubular tissue structures, like those of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, as well as blood vessels; tissues for hernia repair and / or tendons and ligaments. A three-dimensional filamentous tissue having tendon or ligament function is prepared containing fibroblasts and collagen naturally secreted by the fibroblasts attached to and substantially enveloping a three-dimensional filamentous framework.

The invention pertains to methods of producing artificial composite tissue constructs that permit coordinated motion. Biocompatable structural matrices having sufficient rigidity to provide structural support for cartilage-forming cells and bone-forming cells are used. Biocompatable flexible matrices seeded with muscle cells are joined to the structural matrices to produce artificial composite tissue constructs that are capable of coordinated motion.

Biocompatible synthetic or natural scaffolds are provided for the reconstruction, repair, augmentation or replacement of organs or tissue structures in a patient in need of such treatment. The scaffolds are shaped to conform to at least a part of the organ or tissue structure and may be seeded with one or more cell populations. Inserts, receptacles and ports are also provided for the attachment of tubular vessels to the neo-organ scaffolds. The seeded scaffolds are implanted into the patient at the site in need of treatment to form an organized organ or tissue structure. The scaffolds may be used to form organs or tissues, such as bladders, urethras, valves, and blood vessels.

A tissue puncture assembly includes an elongate tubular member having a lumen, a distal portion having a side wall, a side port opening extending through the side wall and, and a guiding surface having a distal end that extends adjacent to a distal edge of the side port opening. The tissue puncture assembly further includes a flexible puncture member insertable through the lumen of the elongate tubular member. The flexible puncture member deflects upon contacting the guiding surface to exit the elongate tubular member through the side port in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the elongate tubular member. The tissue puncture member is capable of puncturing tissue at an oblique angle. The tissue puncture member may further adopt a pre-formed shape at its distal end to prevent inadvertent puncture of tissue and to maintain access to the puncture site. The transseptal puncture assembly may include various sensors to identify tissue structures and precisely locate the desired puncture site.

Described herein are bioprinters comprising: one or more printer heads, wherein a printer head comprises a means for receiving and holding at least one cartridge, and wherein said cartridge comprises contents selected from one or more of: bio-ink and support material; a means for calibrating the position of at least one cartridge; and a means for dispensing the contents of at least one cartridge. Further described herein are methods for fabricating a tissue construct, comprising: a computer module receiving input of a visual representation of a desired tissue construct; a computer module generating a series of commands, wherein the commands are based on the visual representation and are readable by a bioprinter; a computer module providing the series of commands to a bioprinter; and the bioprinter depositing bio-ink and support material according to the commands to form a construct with a defined geometry.

Novel products comprising conditioned cell culture medium compositions and methods of use are described. The conditioned cell medium compositions of the invention may be comprised of any known defined or undefined medium and may be conditioned using any eukaryotic cell type. The medium may be conditioned by stromal cells, parenchymal cells, mesenchymal stem cells, liver reserve cells, neural stem cells, pancreatic stem cells and / or embryonic stem cells. Additionally, the cells may be genetically modified. A three-dimensional tissue construct is preferred. Once the cell medium of the invention is conditioned, it may be used in any state. Physical embodiments of the conditioned medium include, but are not limited to, liquid or solid, frozen, lyophilized or dried into a powder. Additionally, the medium is formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as a vehicle for internal administration, applied directly to a food item or product, formulated with a salve or ointment for topical applications, or, for example, made into or added to surgical glue to accelerate healing of sutures following invasive procedures. Also, the medium may be further processed to concentrate or reduce one or more factors or components contained within the medium.

Methods for decellularizing mammalian tissue for use in transplantation and tissue engineering. The invention includes methods for simultaneous application of an ionic detergent and a nonionic detergent for a long time period, which may exceed five days. One method utilizes SDS as the ionic detergent and Triton-X 100 as the nonionic detergent. A long rinse step follows, which may also exceed five days in length. This long duration, simultaneous extraction with two detergents produced tissue showing stress-strain curves and DSC data similar to that of fresh, unprocessed tissue. The processed tissue is largely devoid of cells, has the underlying structure essentially intact, and also shows a significantly improved inflammatory response relative to fresh tissue, even without glutaraldehyde fixation. Significantly reduced in situ calcification has also been demonstrated relative to glutaraldehyde fixed tissue. Applicants believe the ionic and non-ionic detergents may act synergistically to bind protein to the ionic detergent and may remove an ionic detergent-protein complex from the tissue using the non-ionic detergent. The present methods find one exemplary use in decellularizing porcine heart valve leaflet and wall tissue for use in transplantation.

The invention provides systems, modules, bioreactor and methods for the automated culture, proliferation, differentiation, production and maintenance of tissue engineered products. In one aspect is an automated tissue engineering system comprising a housing, at least one bioreactor supported by the housing, the bioreactor facilitating physiological cellular functions and / or the generation of one or more tissue constructs from cell and / or tissue sources. A fluid containment system is supported by the housing and is in fluid communication with the bioreactor. One or more sensors are associated with one or more of the housing, bioreactor or fluid containment system for monitoring parameters related to the physiological cellular functions and / or generation of tissue constructs; and a microprocessor linked to one or more of the sensors. The systems, methods and products of the invention find use in various clinical and laboratory settings.

A bioreactor and methods of using same for making tissue constructs and for conditioning tissue-engineered constructs and harvested tissues such as cryopreserved tissues. The bioreactor allows for static and dynamic culture / conditioning. The bioreactor is dual chambered (one chamber above and one below the cells or construct) to allow for application of biochemical and / or biomechanical stimuli to each side of the cells / construct.

A tissue puncture assembly includes an elongate tubular member having a lumen, a distal portion having a side wall, a side port opening extending through the side wall and, and a guiding surface having a distal end that extends adjacent to a distal edge of the side port opening. The tissue puncture assembly further includes a flexible puncture member insertable through the lumen of the elongate tubular member. The flexible puncture member deflects upon contacting the guiding surface to exit the elongate tubular member through the side port in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the elongate tubular member. The tissue puncture member is capable of puncturing tissue at an oblique angle. The tissue puncture member may further adopt a pre-formed shape at its distal end to prevent inadvertent puncture of tissue and to maintain access to the puncture site. The transseptal puncture assembly may include various sensors to identify tissue structures and precisely locate the desired puncture site.

The invention provides an intraoperative tissue tracking method combined with a preoperative image, which comprises the following sequential steps: the first step: preoperative preparation, including the steps of acquiring a space position of a marking point in the preoperative image and calibration of equipment; and the second step: deformation tracking of an intraoperative tissue, including 1, coordinate system registration which is one of main parts of the invention; and 2. tissue deformation and fusion display which is also one of the main parts of the invention. By using intraoperative real-time two-dimensional ultrasound image and endoscope image and intraoperative electromagnetic or optical positioning system and using algorithm analysis and geometric registration calculation, a tissue structure of an intraoperative interest tissue can be reflected in the image.

Disclosed are living, three-dimensional tissue constructs for in vitro scientific and medical research, arrays thereof, and methods of making said tissues and arrays.

A multi-layered tissue construct includes: a first layer comprising a first hydrogel; and a second layer comprising a second hydrogel, wherein the first layer is connected to the second layer at a first transition zone and wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of cells and a bioactive substance. Another multi-layered tissue construct includes: a first layer comprising a first hydrogel; a second layer comprising cells of a first type, wherein the second layer is disposed on the first layer; and a third layer comprising a second hydrogel and optionally cells of the first type encapsulated in the second hydrogel, wherein the third layer is disposed on the second layer. Methods for producing these multi-layered tissue constructs are also disclosed.

Surgical constructs and methods for tissue to bone repair employing a tissue construct reinforced with a reinforcement (reinforcing) material such as suture, tape, weave or mesh, among many others. The reinforced construct preferably includes a stitched reinforced region formed by employing a suture loop construct with a free floating needle that is attached to the suture loop, and also with a piece of material (a reinforcement or reinforcing material) attached to the suture loop. The reinforced construct may be attached to any fixation device and / or any bone tunnel.

Described herein are bioprinters comprising: one or more printer heads, wherein a printer head comprises a means for receiving and holding at least one cartridge, and wherein said cartridge comprises contents selected from one or more of: bio-ink and support material; a means for calibrating the position of at least one cartridge; and a means for dispensing the contents of at least one cartridge. Further described herein are methods for fabricating a tissue construct, comprising: a computer module receiving input of a visual representation of a desired tissue construct; a computer module generating a series of commands, wherein the commands are based on the visual representation and are readable by a bioprinter; a computer module providing the series of commands to a bioprinter; and the bioprinter depositing bio-ink and support material according to the commands to form a construct with a defined geometry.