System and method for forming bioengineered tubular graft prostheses

1. An apparatus for forming a tube construct from a planar sheet matrix, comprising:

a stand supporting two opposing mounts and spanning between the opposing mounts are a mandrel, a porous rod, and a spring-loaded roller held in parallel arrangement;

a guide for aligning and engaging the mandrel on the opposing mounts; and,

a means for imparting a tangential force on the planar sheet matrix to prevent wrinkling;

wherein the porous rod has a lumen running its length and has pores that communicate between the lumen of the porous rod through to the surface of the rod for water to uniformly pass through;

wherein the spring-loaded roller runs along the length of the porous rod creating a line of contact between the roller and the mandrel; and,

wherein the mandrel is contacted with a planar sheet of matrix and is rotated such that successive portions of the matrix contact the porous rod and become lightly moistened by the water passing through the pores of the porous rod and become wrapped around the mandrel to form a tube construct.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a hollow chuck above the level of the ceramic rod, the hollow chuck having machined holes that communicate between the interior and exterior of the hollow chuck.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the hollow chuck has a plurality of holes on the face towards the spring-loaded roller; and

the hollow chuck has a port at one end for the attachment of a vacuum source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a perpendicular rod wherein, in each mount, the spring-loaded roller is contacted by an end of the perpendicular rod loaded by a coil spring contained in the mount.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

first and second extender rods;

a solid bar; and

first and second spring housings; wherein the perpendicular rod passes through each mount via the extender rod and the perpendicular rod can be disengaged from the spring-loaded roller by engaging the solid bar between the ends of the first and second extender rods and the first and second spring housings.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:

a guide member in each of the opposing mounts, the guide member having an L-shaped groove such that the top of the guide member is open to accommodate one end of the mandrel and the bottom of the guide member aligns the mandrel to engage the mandrel against the porous rod.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:

when the spring-loaded roller is disengaged, the guide members are open for the insertion of the mandrel between the opposing mounts; and

when the guide members are loaded with the mandrel and the spring-loaded roller is engaged, the roller presses against the mandrel on one side such that the mandrel contacts the ceramic rod on the opposite side.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:

a vacuum source; and

a water source; wherein, before the guide members are loaded with the mandrel, the vacuum and water sources are activated so that air is pulled through the holes in the hollow chuck to the interior of the hollow chuck and water is passed from the lumen of the porous tube to its surface.