Composite scaffold for the repair, reconstruction, and regeneration of soft tissues

Inventors

Rocco, Kevin A. • Mohanraj, Bhavana • Ott, Jeffrey • Bendigo, Justin • Komenda, Jacob Edward • Aronson, Mark Theodore • Carter, Andrew James

Assignees

Conmed Corp • Biorez Inc

Abstract

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.

Core Innovation

A composite scaffold is disclosed for soft-tissue repair, reconstruction, or regeneration that combines a microporous matrix with a structure supporting the microporous matrix. The microporous matrix includes a multitude of interconnected pores opening to an exterior surface and collectively defining an interior void space, and the supporting structure includes first and second outer layers separated by the interior void space, with a plurality of spacer elements yarns extending through the interior void space and connecting the first and second outer layers.

The composite scaffold has a substantially rectangular cross-section defined by exterior sides. Interconnected pores proximate one of the exterior sides have a largest dimension oriented relative to the one exterior side.

The disclosed structure is presented as maintaining shape under tension and resisting compression while providing interconnected porosity and void volume to support cell ingrowth. Quantified scaffold attributes are described, including pore volume, porosity, permeability, pore size distribution, surface area per weight, swelling and swelling resistance, density, and reported tensile-test outcomes indicating reinforcement of tendon or augmented constructs.

Claims Coverage

The partial claims set provides one independent claim that covers the composite scaffold architecture with a microporous matrix supported by a spacer-element textile structure, including a substantially rectangular cross-section and an orientation requirement for pore largest dimension near an exterior side. Dependent claims in the set further refine the independent claim by adding structural, geometric, and quantitative property constraints.

Across the provided claims, the inventive focus is the combination of a microporous matrix defining an interior void space with a two-outer-layer, spacer-element-yarn supporting textile structure, together with a substantially rectangular cross-section and a defined orientation of pore largest dimension near an exterior side. The dependent claims listed add quantitative property ranges and geometry refinements to further specify performance and structure.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications