Composite scaffold for the repair, reconstruction, and regeneration of soft tissues
A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.
1. A composite scaffold comprising:
a microporous matrix having a multitude of interconnected pores collectively defining void space opening to an exterior surface of the microporous matrix; and
a structure supporting the microporous matrix comprising first and second outer layers separated by an interior space, and a plurality of spacer elements extending through the interior space and connecting the first and second outer layers, the microporous matrix being disposed within the interior space;
the composite scaffold having a measurable dry weight value representing a weight of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state and a measurable dry volume value representing a volume of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state,
wherein an increase of between approximately 200% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry volume value of the composite scaffold between approximately 0% and 10%.
2. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry volume value of the composite scaffold between approximately 2% and 7%.
3. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry volume value of the composite scaffold between approximately 4% and 6%.
4. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the composite scaffold has a measurable dry length value representing a dimensional parameter of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state, and
wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry length value of the composite scaffold by between approximately 0% and 3%.
5. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the composite scaffold has a measurable dry length value representing a dimensional parameter of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state, and
wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry length value of the composite scaffold by between approximately 0% and 2%.
6. A composite scaffold comprising:
a microporous matrix having a multitude of interconnected pores collectively defining void space opening to an exterior surface of the microporous matrix; and
a structure supporting the microporous matrix comprising first and second outer layers separated by an interior space, and a plurality of spacer elements extending through the interior space and connecting the first and second outer layers, the microporous matrix being disposed within the interior space;
the composite scaffold having a measurable dry weight value representing a weight of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state and a measurable dry length value representing a dimensional parameter of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state,
wherein an increase of between approximately 200% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry length value of the composite scaffold by less than between approximately 0% and 3%.
7. The composite scaffold of claim 6 wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry length value of the composite scaffold by between approximately 0% and 2%.
8. The composite scaffold of claim 6 wherein an increase of between approximately 500% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry length value of the composite scaffold less than approximately 1%.
9. The composite scaffold of claim 6 wherein the composite scaffold has a measurable dry volume value representing a volume of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state, and
wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry volume value of the composite scaffold between approximately 2% and 7%.
10. The composite scaffold of claim 6 wherein the composite scaffold has a measurable dry volume value representing a volume of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state, and
wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the dry volume value of the composite scaffold between approximately 4% and 6%.
11. A composite scaffold comprising:
a microporous matrix having a multitude of interconnected pores collectively defining void space opening to an exterior surface of the microporous matrix; and
a structure supporting the microporous matrix comprising first and second outer layers separated by an interior space, and a plurality of spacer elements extending through the interior space and connecting the first and second outer layers, the microporous matrix being disposed within the interior space;
the composite scaffold having a measurable dry weight value representing a weight of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state and a measurable cross sectional profile value representing a dimensional parameter of the composite scaffold in a substantially dry state,
wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the cross sectional profile value of the composite scaffold by between approximately 0% and 3%.
12. The composite scaffold of claim 11 wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the cross sectional profile value of the composite scaffold by between approximately 0% and 2%.
13. The composite scaffold of claim 11 wherein an increase of between approximately 500% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption changes the cross sectional profile value of the composite scaffold less than approximately 1%.
14. The composite scaffold of claim 11 wherein an increase of between approximately 300% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption increases the cross sectional profile value of the composite scaffold by between approximately 0% and 2%.
15. The composite scaffold of claim 11 wherein an increase of between approximately 500% and 600% of the dry weight value of the composite scaffold from fluid absorption increases the cross sectional profile value of the composite scaffold less than approximately 1%.