Self-supporting collagen tunnel for guided tissue regeneration and method of using same

1. A method of augmenting a bone in a patient, said method comprising:

surgically exposing bone to be augmented at a desired bone graft site in the patient;

disposing a resorbable self-supporting, curved, collagen membrane over the exposed bone at the desired bone graft site such that said collagen membrane provides a defined space of predetermined height and width adjacent the exposed bone; wherein the membrane retains its structural integrity for a desired time after installation at a bone graft site and then breaks down and is completely resorbed by the patient body;

securing the collagen membrane in position with bone tacks or bone screws; and

packing said defined space with a bone graft material.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said collagen membrane is first trimmed to fit the bone graft site prior to being disposed over the exposed bone.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the membrane retains its structural integrity for at least 4 months after installation at a bone graft site and then breaks down and is resorbed by the patient's body.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bone to be augmented is the alveolar ridge of the patient.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the membrane is a biocompatible, collagen membrane adapted to be secured to the alveolar ridge of a bone graft patient for containing a bone graft material in a desired configuration and location on the alveolar ridge.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the membrane retains its structural integrity for at least 4 months after installation at a bone graft site and then breaks down and is resorbed by the patient's body.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the membrane has the configuration of an elongated tubular segment.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the membrane is formed of collagen fibers having a native fibrous structure and a fiber length of from 0.2 to 3 millimeters.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said fibers have an average length of about 1.5 millimeters.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said collagen membrane has a tensile strength of approximately 3600 g/mm 2 , a tensile modulus of approximately 95,000 g/mm 2 , pore diameters of less than 50 microns, and a porosity of less than 20%.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said membrane has a radius of curvature a in the range from about 5 to about 10 mm, an overall curved width b in the range from about 10 to about 25 mm, a tunnel width c in the range from about 10 to about 20 mm, a height h in the range from about 3 to about 8 mm and an overall length l in the range from about 10 to about 40 mm.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said membrane is a resorbable collagen membrane produced by the process comprising:

forming a suspension of collagen fibers in an alcohol/water solution;

pouring the suspension into a curved mold cavity of a mold;

subjecting the mold to freezing temperature until the suspension in the mold solidifies;

opening the mold;

subjecting the frozen suspension to freeze drying to produce a membrane;

spraying the freeze-dried membrane with an alcohol/water solution;

thereafter subjecting the membrane to drying; and

heat treating the dried membrane.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said suspension contains from 10 to 60 mg/ml of collagen fibers having a length of 0.2 to 3 mm in a 5 to 25% solution of alcohol in water.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the membrane is sprayed with an alcohol/water solution containing from 40 to 70% alcohol.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein perforations are formed in the membrane during casting by extending a plurality of pins through the mold in which the membrane is formed.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the heat treatment is effected at a temperature of from 100 to 140° C. for a period of from 15 minutes to 2 hours.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said membrane takes the form of a bight formed with two legs of unequal length joined by a curved center section.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the two legs are spaced apart a distance of about 8±1 mm.

19. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said membrane takes the form of a circular segment with a circumferential fold forming a peaked structure.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said membrane is provided with at least one projecting tab.