Regenerative Medicine Devices and Foam Methods of Manufacture
The invention relates generally to devices for organ replacement and regenerative medicine providing a biocompatible and biodegradable scaffold capable of integral cell growth that forms a hollow chamber, as well as methods for producing such devices by lyophilizing biocompatible, biodegradable polymers to produce a seamless, three-dimensional shape.
1 . A tissue growth device comprising a biocompatible, biodegradable scaffold capable of integral cell growth that forms a hollow chamber.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein said scaffold is produced by lyophilizing a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer to create a seamless, three-dimensional shape.
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein said scaffold is produced by the steps comprising:
a. placing a solution comprising a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer dissolved in sublimable solvent into a mold.
b. applying force to distribute said solution substantially evenly within a mold;
c. freezing said solution within said mold wherein the resulting frozen construct has an exterior shape and texture consistent with the mold's internal geometry and
d. removing solvent via vacuum sublimation.
4 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a pharmaceutical agent.
5 . The device of claim 4 wherein the pharmaceutical agent is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antiviral agents, chemotherapeutic agents, anti-rejection agents, analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, hormones, steroids, growth factors, proteins, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and lipoproteins.
6 . A tissue generated using the device of claim 1 .
7 . The tissue of claim 6 wherein said tissue is bladder tissue.