Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Charles J Gatt

Michael G Dunn

Jay M Patel

Eric A Balint

Aaron R Merriam

William Pfaff

A method for forming a scaffold for use in fabricating a soft tissue implant, comprising: receiving, by a processor, soft tissue data corresponding to dimensions for a soft tissue, and a first and second weighting factor selected based on the dimensions of the soft tissue; transforming, by the processor, the soft tissue data, based on the first and second weighting factors, into a plurality of pin coordinates in a multi-dimensional space defining a shape of the scaffold for use in fabricating the soft tissue implant; and providing, by the processor, instructions to form the scaffold using weaving operations based on the pin coordinates.

System and methods of manufacturing a lateral meniscus implant

Systems () and methods () for fabricating a soft tissue implant (). The methods generally involve: receiving implant data representative of the target implant; determining a planned weaving path for forming the soft tissue implant; and communicating the planned weaving path to an output device.

System and method for making personalized fibrocartilage implants

Fibrocartilage implants characterized by circumferential fiber networks embedded in arcuate or torroidal scaffolds with orthogonal fiber networks embedded therein to prevent separation of the circumferential fiber networks. The fiber networks convert axial compressive forces on the scaffolds to tensile loads on the circumferential fibers. Artificial knee meniscus and vertebral disc implants are disclosed, as well as articular disc implants for joints such as the temporomandibular joint and wrist. Methods for implanting the fibrocartilage devices are also disclosed.

Tissue engineered fibrocartilage replacement

A meniscus implant including a c-shaped scaffold having an arcuate middle section extending between an anterior end and a posterior end. A reinforcing network of fibers independent from the scaffold is embedded therein. Fibers of said network fibers exit each end of the scaffold to form respective anterior and posterior attachment segments which extend parallel to a central axis of the scaffold. The network of fibers is configured to convert an axial compressive force on said scaffold to tensile loads on said attachment points.

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Skillman, NJ, United States of America

Charles J Gatt