Method for shaping tissue matrices

1. A method for shaping a tissue matrix, comprising:

selecting a collagen-containing tissue matrix;

partially dehydrating the tissue matrix;

applying mechanical forces to the tissue matrix to change the orientation of collagen fibers within the tissue matrix; and

exposing the tissue matrix while partially dehydrated to ionizing radiation to cross-link at least a portion of the tissue matrix.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue matrix is an a cellular tissue matrix.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue matrix comprises a dermal tissue matrix.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is selected from fascia, pericardial tissue, dura, umbilical cord tissue, placental tissue, cardiac valve tissue, ligament tissue, tendon tissue, arterial tissue, venous tissue, neural connective tissue, urinary bladder tissue, ureter tissue, and intestinal tissue.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein partially dehydrating the tissue matrix includes removing water to produce a tissue matrix containing between 95% (w/w) and 50% (w/w) water content.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the water content is between 80% (w/w) and 65% (w/w).

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rehydrating the tissue matrix.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation is applied at a dose between 5 Gy and 50 kGy.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation is applied at a dose between 5 Gy and 20 kGy.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation is applied at a dose of less than 10 kGy.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation is applied at a dose of less than 5 kGy.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation is applied at a dose of less than 1 kGy.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation is selected from gamma radiation, e-beam radiation, and X-ray radiation.

14. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein selecting a tissue matrix includes selecting a tissue matrix in the form of a flexible sheet.