Collagen construct and method for producing the collagen construct
There is disclosed a collagen construct comprising a plurality of elongate strips, wherein each strip contains a plurality of collagen fibres that are substantially aligned along the length of the respective strips, and the strips are braided or woven together to produce a collagen construct in the form of a rope that can be used for replacing tendons or ligaments, such as cruciate ligaments. Also disclosed is a method for making or producing the collagen construct from a collagen membrane having a plurality of collagen fibres being substantially aligned parallel to each other in a common direction. The membrane is cut along cut lines that are orientated substantially parallel to that common direction, thereby to separate elongate strips from the membrane. The strips are then braided or woven together to form the collagen construct.
1 . A collagen construct comprising:
a plurality of individually distinguishable elongate strips that are amassed together such that each elongate strip of the plurality of elongate strips in the collagen construct maintains its individual elongate strip structure, each strip consisting essentially of a discrete collagen membrane having a thickness of 50 μm to 400 μm, wherein each of said discrete collagen membrane contains a plurality of collagen fibers that are aligned along a length of the respective strips, wherein a majority of the fibers in each strip are aligned parallel to each other in a common direction.
2 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the collagen fibers in each strip extends continuously along the entire length of its respective strip.
3 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of the collagen fibers in each strip extend continuously along the entire length of each respective strip.
4 . The collagen construct of claim 3 , wherein at least 80% of the collagen fibers in each strip extend continuously along the entire length of each respective strip.
5 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , wherein each strip has a thickness of 100 μm to 200 μm.
6 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , wherein each strip has a width of 50 μm to 5 mm.
7 . The collagen construct of claim 6 , wherein each strip has a width of 1 mm to 3 mm.
8 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , in which the plurality of the strips are braided, plaited, woven or twisted together to form one or more collagen ropes.
9 . The collagen construct of claim 8 , in which a plurality of the collagen ropes are braided, plaited, woven or twisted together to form one or more collagen cables.
10 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , which has a length of 0.5 cm to 50 cm.
11 . The collagen construct of claim 10 , which has a length of 2 cm to 20 cm.
12 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , which has a cross sectional area of 0.002 mm 2 to 18 mm 2 .
13 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , which has a cross sectional area of 0.6 mm 2 to 2 mm 2 .
14 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , which is able to withstand a tensile load of 650 N without breaking or suffering any permanent deformation or damage.
15 . The collagen construct of claim 1 , which comprises a tendon or ligament prosthesis.
16 . The collagen construct of claim 15 , wherein the prosthesis is an anterior cruciate ligament prosthesis.
17 . A method for producing a collagen construct comprising the steps of:
a) forming a collagen membrane comprising numerous collagen fibers, wherein a majority of the fibers are aligned parallel to each other in a common direction;
b) cutting the collagen membrane along cut lines that are orientated parallel to the common direction, thereby to separate elongate strips consisting essentially of a discrete the collagen membrane and having a thickness of 50 μm to 400 μm; and
c) amassing together the elongate strips to form the collagen construct, wherein the elongate strips are individually distinguishable and maintain their individual strip structure in the collagen construct.
18 . A method of repairing anterior cruciate ligament tears, partial or complete, comprising:
providing the collagen construct of claim 1 ;
implanting the collagen construct to augment, repair or replace the anterior cruciate ligament; and
securing the collagen construct in place.
19 . A collagen construct comprising:
a plurality of individually distinguishable elongate strips that are amassed together such that each elongate strip of the plurality of elongate strips in the collagen construct maintains its individual elongate strip structure, each strip consisting essentially of a discrete collagen membrane having a thickness of 50 μm to 400 μm, wherein each of said discrete collagen membrane contains a plurality of collagen fibers that are aligned along a length of the respective strips,
wherein a majority of the fibers in each strip are aligned parallel to each other in a common direction, and
wherein at least one of the collagen fibers in each strip extends continuously along the entire length of its respective strip.