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 method of ligament or tendon injury repair with a composite scaffold, the method comprising:
A) obtaining a composite scaffold comprising:
i) first and second layers spaced apart to define an interior space therebetween and a plurality of spacer elements extending through the interior space and attached to the first and second layers, the plurality of spacer elements comprising a first material; and
ii) a microporous matrix having a multitude of interconnected pores, the microporous matrix disposed within the interior space and comprising a second material, different from the first material, and
B) pre-tensioning the composite scaffold along a length dimension thereof;
C) attaching the composite scaffold to tissue.
2. A method of ligament or tendon injury repair with a composite scaffold comprising:
A) pre-tensioning a composite scaffold along a length dimension thereof, the composite scaffold comprising: i) first and second layers spaced apart to define an interior space therebetween and a plurality of spacer elements extending through the interior space and attached to the first and second layers, the plurality of spacer elements comprising a first material, and ii) a microporous matrix having a multitude of interconnected pores, the microporous matrix disposed within the interior space and comprising a second material, different from the first material; and
B) attaching the composite scaffold to tissue.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein B) comprises:
B1) attaching the composite scaffold to an allograft or autograft tendon.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein B) comprises:
B1) attaching the composite scaffold to a damaged or torn ligament or tendon.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein B) comprises:
B1) attaching the composite scaffold to a damaged or torn tendon.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein B) comprises:
B1) attaching the composite scaffold to an allograft or autograft tendon.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein B) comprises:
B1) attaching the composite scaffold to a damaged or torn ligament.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein B) comprises:
B1) attaching the composite scaffold to a damaged or torn tendon.