EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX SHEET STRUCTURES

1 . An implantable medical product, comprising: a bioremodelable pouch structure comprising one or more acellular extracellular matrix sheets, and having an internal region or cavity and an opening;

wherein the pouch structure is configured and sized to receive, encase and retain an electrical medical device therein and to allow such device to be inserted into the internal region or cavity of the pouch structure, wherein the pouch structure is formed from either: (a) first and second acellular extracellular matrix sheets having edges that are joined together by stitching or stapling, or (b) a single acellular extracellular matrix sheet having first and second sheet portions having edges that are joined together by stitching or stapling;

wherein the edges of the acellular extracellular matrix sheets or sheet portions forming the opening are configured for closing by stitching or stapling those edges after receiving the device;

wherein the pouch structure substantially reduces or eliminates harsh biological responses associated with conventionally implanted medical devices, including inflammation, infection and thrombogenesis, when implanted in a body of a warm blooded mammal;

wherein the pouch structure effectively improves biological functions by promoting tissue regeneration, modulated healing of adjacent tissue or growth of new tissue when implanted in the body of the mammal;

wherein the pouch structure has a periphery that is at least partially arcuate; and wherein the internal region or cavity of the pouch structure contains a composition that is a pharmacological agent.

2 . The product of claim 1 , wherein the pharmacological agent is or includes an antibiotic agent.

3 . The product of claim 1 , wherein said acellular extracellular matrix sheet is from a decellularized mammalian tissue source, said decellularized mammalian tissue source being small intestine submucosa (SIS), urinary bladder submucosa, stomach submucosa, epithelium of mesodermal origin, dermal extracellular matrix, subcutaneous extracellular matrix, gastrointestinal extracellular matrix, tissue surrounding growing bone, placental extracellular matrix, omentum extracellular matrix, cardiac extracellular matrix, kidney extracellular matrix, pancreas extracellular matrix, lung extracellular matrix, urinary basement membrane, liver basement membrane, or a combination thereof.

4 . The product of claim 1 , wherein the pouch structure is generally rectangular.

5 . The product of claim 1 , wherein the pouch structure includes a single acellular extracellular matrix sheet that is configured to form a closed end of the pouch structure, with the opening located on the opposite side from the closed end.

6 . The product of claim 1 , wherein the pouch structure has first and second acellular extracellular matrix sheets having corresponding edges, wherein all but one of the edges of the first sheet are joined together with all but one of the corresponding edges on the second sheet by stitching or stapling, and wherein a remaining one edge of the first sheet and the corresponding edge on the second sheet are not joined together, thereby forming the opening.

7 . An implantable medical product, comprising: a bioremodelable pouch structure comprising one or more acellular extracellular matrix sheets, and having an internal region or cavity and an opening;

wherein the pouch structure is configured and sized to receive, encase and retain an electrical medical device therein and to allow such device to be inserted into the internal region or cavity of the pouch structure; wherein the pouch structure is formed from either: (a) first and second acellular extracellular matrix sheets, or (b) a single acellular extracellular matrix sheet having first and second sheet portions, with each sheet or sheet portion comprising edges;

wherein the edges of the acellular extracellular matrix sheets or sheet portions are joined together by stitching or stapling, except for the edges of the acellular extracellular matrix sheets or sheet portions forming the opening, which are configured for closing by stitching or stapling those edges after receiving the device; and an electrical medical device contained within the internal region or cavity of the pouch structure;

wherein the edges of the acellular extracellular matrix sheets or sheet portions forming the opening are closed by stitching or stapling after receiving the device within the internal region or cavity;

wherein the pouch structure substantially reduces or eliminates harsh biological responses associated with conventionally implanted medical devices, including inflammation, infection and thrombogenesis, when implanted in a body of a warm blooded mammal;

wherein the pouch structure effectively improves biological functions by promoting tissue regeneration, modulated healing of adjacent tissue or growth of new tissue when implanted in the body of the mammal, wherein the pouch structure has a periphery that is at least partially arcuate;

and wherein the internal region or cavity of the pouch structure also contains a composition that is a pharmacological agent.

8 . The product of claim 9 , wherein the pharmacological agent is or includes an antibiotic agent.

9 . The product of claim 8 , wherein the medical device is a pacemaker, defibrillator, synthetic heart valve, ventricular assist device, artificial heart, physiological sensor, catheter, or an associated component thereof.

10 . The product of claim 8 , wherein the pouch structure is generally rectangular.