Tissue grafting material
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a tissue grafting material that includes a first tissue element harvested from an individual, a carrier, and a therapeutic substance contained in the carrier. The carrier and therapeutic substance are incorporated into the first tissue element and the first tissue element, carrier, and therapeutic substance form a unitary implant.
1. An implantable device comprising:
a first tissue element harvested from an individual and containing tissue of a first tissue type;
a second tissue element harvested from an individual and containing tissue of a second type differing from the first tissue type;
a carrier; and
a therapeutic substance contained in the carrier,
where the implantable device is made by pressing together the first tissue element, second tissue element, carrier and therapeutic substance in a closed forming chamber having a configuration such that the first tissue element, second tissue element, carrier, and therapeutic substance form a unitary implant with the first tissue element compressed around the second tissue element and having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the forming chamber.
2. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic substance is selected from a group which consists of antibiotics, bone growth enhancers, tricalcium phosphate, fibrin, allograft material and autograft material.
3. The implantable device of claim 2 wherein the therapeutic substance is a bone growth enhancer.
4. The implantable device of claim 3 wherein the first tissue element is bone tissue.
5. The implantable device of claim 4 wherein the implant has a predetermined shape prior to implantation in a patient.
6. The implantable device of claim 5 wherein the carrier is a gelatin or a polysaccharide.
7. The implantable device of claim 5 wherein the bone tissue is viable.
8. The implantable device of claim 5 further including a retainer at least partially enclosing the implant.
9. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the retainer has openings to enable tissue to grow through the openings after the device is implanted in a patient.
10. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the retainer is made of an expandable material.
11. The implantable device of claim 10 wherein the retainer is made of a material that expands upon contact with body fluids.
12. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the retainer is made of PEEK.
13. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the retainer is made of a biodegradable material.
14. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the retainer is made of an allograft.
15. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the retainer is a cage.