Allergan, Inc.

Control Module, Inc.

Other

Combustion Engineering, Inc.

Tufts University

Tissue Regeneration, Inc.

Serica Technologies, Inc.

David J Horan

Gregory H Altman

Rebecca L Horan

James S Bianco

Jingsong Chen

Jingson Chen

Enrico Mortarino

David L Kaplan

Donald A Smith

Silk is purified to eliminate immunogenic components (particularly sericin) and is used to form fabric that is used to form tissue-supporting prosthetic devices for implantation. The fabrics can carry functional groups, drugs, and other biological reagents. Applications include hernia repair, tissue wall reconstruction, and organ support, such as bladder slings. The silk fibers are arranged in parallel and, optionally, intertwined (e.g., twisted) to form a construct; sericin may be extracted at any point during the formation of the fabric, leaving a construct of silk fibroin fibers having excellent tensile strength and other mechanical properties.

Sericin extracted fabrics

A knitted prosthetic device has at least two knitted sections, where each knitted section has at least one row of fiber. The knitted prosthetic device also has at least one intra-articular section disposed between the at least two knitted sections. In addition, the at least one intra-articular section has at least one single continuous fiber traversing the at least one intra-articular section and the at least two knitted sections, where the at least one single continuous fiber forms a plurality of traverses extending between the at least two knitted sections. In particular, embodiments may be used as ligament prostheses by anchoring each of the at least two knitted sections to a bone section of a patient. Such embodiments may be constructed from a strong polymer, preferably, but not limited to, silk, where the polymer provides ligament support but bioresorbs as load bearing responsibilities are transferred to tissue resulting from ingrowth.

Prosthetic device and method of manufacturing the same

Methods for making biocompatible, implantable, substantially sericin free silk fabric

Knitted biodegradable silk fabric comprising yarn promoting ingrowth of cells and methods of making

Method of forming an implantable knitted fabric comprising silk fibroin fibers

Method for generating connective tissue by implanting a biodegradable silk fabric

A knitted prosthetic device has at least two knitted sections, where each knitted section has at least one row of fiber. The knitted prosthetic device also has at least one intra-articular section disposed between the at least two knitted sections. In addition, the at least one intra-articular section has at least one single continuous fiber traversing the at least one intra-articular section and the at least two knitted sections, where the at least one single continuous fiber forms a plurality of traverses extending between the at least two knitted sections. In particular, embodiments may be used as ligament prostheses by anchoring each of the at least two knitted sections to a bone section of a patient. Such embodiments may be constructed from a strong polymer, preferably, but not limited to, silk, where the polymer provides ligament support but bioresorbs as load bearing responsibilities are transferred to tissue resulting from in-growth.

The present invention provides a novel silk-fiber-based matrix having a wire-rope geometry for use in producing a ligament or tendon, particularly an anterior cruciate ligament, ex vivo for implantation into a recipient in need thereof. The invention further provides the novel silk-fiber-based matrix which is seeded with pluripotent cells that proliferate and differentiate on the matrix to form a ligament or tendon ex vivo. Also disclosed is a bioengineered ligament comprising the silk-fiber-based matrix seeded with pluripotent cells that proliferate and differentiate on the matrix to form the ligament or tendon. A method for producing a ligament or tendon ex vivo comprising the novel silk-fiber-based matrix is also disclosed.

Helically organized silk fibroin fiber bundles for matrices in tissue engineering

A method of providing secure identification for an article, including: providing on the article a diffraction grating strip including a pattern of a series of diffraction grating elements, each the diffraction grating element to diffract light, from a light source, in one of at least three selected different planes; serially illuminating the diffraction grating elements, detecting changes in plane of diffracted light as the diffraction grating elements are serially illuminated, and generating first information representative of the changes in plane; storing the first information representative of the changes in plane; subsequently, serially illuminating the diffraction grating elements, detecting changes in plane of diffracted light as the diffraction grating elements are serially illuminated, and generating second information representative of the changes in plane; and then, comparing the first and second information to determine the authenticity or not of the article. A coded pattern may be placed on the diffraction grating strip, with one of the coded pattern and the pattern of diffraction grating elements precessing with respect to the other and the coded pattern is read, stored, and compared as part of the first and second information, as above.

Secure optical identification method and means

In a preferred embodiment, secure optical identification, including: a first lacquer layer; a metallic layer disposed on a first surface of the first lacquer layer, with a first surface of the metallic layer in contact with the first surface of the first lacquer layer; a diffraction pattern embossed in the first surface of the first lacquer layer through the metallic layer; a pattern formed in the metallic layer by demetallizing areas of the metallic layer; and a second lacquer layer, having the same refractive index as that of the first lacquer layer, disposed on a second surface of the metallic layer so as to fill in voids adjacent the diffraction pattern caused by the demetallizing areas of the metallic layer.

Secure optical identification means and method with enhanced variability

In a preferred embodiment, a method of providing secure identification for an article, including: providing on the article a diffraction grating strip including a pattern of a series of diffraction grating elements, each the diffraction grating element to diffract light, from a light source, in one of at least three selected different planes; serially illuminating the diffraction grating elements, detecting changes in plane of diffracted light as the diffraction grating elements are serially illuminated, and generating first information representative of the changes in plane; storing the first information representative of the changes in plane; subsequently, serially illuminating the diffraction grating elements, detecting changes in plane of diffracted light as the diffraction grating elements are serially illuminated, and generating second information representative of the changes in plane; and then, comparing the first and second information to determine the authenticity or not of the article. In a further aspect of the invention, a coded pattern is placed on the diffraction grating strip, with one of the coded pattern and the pattern of diffraction grating elements precessing with respect to the other and the coded pattern is read, stored, and compared as part of the first and second information, as above.

In a preferred embodiment, a method of producing embossed first and second elongate, edgewise side by side, repeating, optical patterns on a sheet for use in producing secure identification means, the method comprising: continuously embossing the first and second optical patterns on the sheet, such that the first and second patterns repeat at different rates, so that the first pattern will 'walk' with respect to the second pattern.

Method of embossing repeating patterns on a substrate, the patterns

In a preferred embodiment, a method of of of determining if a compound diffraction grating has been forged, the compound diffraction grating including a plurality of diffraction grating elements of different types, the compound diffraction grating being read by serially detecting light diffracted by the diffraction grating elements, including: determining the amplitude of diffracted light signals as the compound diffraction grating is being read; and determining that the compound diffraction grating is forged if the amplitude is below a selected threshold level. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method determining if such a diffraction grating has been forged, the method including: measuring the number of transitions between diffraction grating elements across the strip; and comparing the number with a pre-recorded number of the transitions and determining that the diffraction grating strip has been forged if the numbers are not the same. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of determining if a compound diffraction grating has been forged, the method including: illuminating the compound diffraction grating with a beam of light substantially orthogonal to the compound diffraction grating; and determining that the compound diffraction grating has been forged when the beam of light is reflected substantially orthogonally from the compound grating.

Method and apparatus for detecting forged diffraction gratings on

In one preferred embodiment, a memory device for insertion and retention in a hole defined in a planar identification card having upper and lower surfaces, the memory device comprising: electronic circuitry disposed in a cylindrical housing having upper and lower surfaces; the housing being held substantially within the hole after being snapped thereinto; and the housing having a total height substantially the same as the thickness of the card. In a further aspect of the invention, electronic circuitry in the housing is accessible by temporary attachment to an electronic terminal, the electronic circuitry being powered by a charged capacitor, the capacitor being adapted to be charged by the terminal with a charge sufficient to power the electronic circuitry for only a selected period of time. The capacitor may be charged over a communication line to the memory device. The memory may be disabled if a use limitation stored therein is exceeded.

Growing community of inventors

Westfield, MA, United States of America

David J Horan