Lifenet Health

Lifenet

Louis E Ford

Lloyd Wolfinbarger, Jr

Robert K O'Leary

Barton D Gaskins

Dennis Phelps

Daniel B Osborne

Jon C Serbousek

Debra Moore-Smith

Anne Wilson

Alyce Linhurst Jones

Katrina Crouch

Laine Mashburn, Jr

The present invention is directed to a fiber, preferably bone fiber, having a textured surface, which acts as an effective binding substrate for bone-forming cells and for the induction or promotion of new bone growth by bone-forming cells, which bind to the fiber. Methods of using the bone fibers to induce or promote new bone growth and bone material compositions comprising the bone fibers are also described. The invention further relates to a substrate cutter device and cutter, which are effective in producing substrate fibers, such as bone fibers.

Device and process for producing fiber products and fiber products produced thereby

The invention is directed to an apparatus for producing demineralized osteoinductive bone. The apparatus demineralizes bone by subjecting bone, including, for example, ground bone, bone cubes, chips, strips, or essentially intact bone, to either a rapid high volume pulsatile acidification wave process or to a rapid continuous acid demineralization process. The pulsatile acidification wave process includes subjecting bone to two or more rapid pulse/drain cycles in which one or more demineralizing acids is rapidly pulsed into a vessel containing bone, and after a desired period of time, is rapidly drained from the vessel. The continuous acid demineralization process includes subjecting bone to a continuous exchange of demineralizing acid solution in which the demineralizing acid solution is recirculated from the container holding the bone through an ion exchange media. Calcium and phosphate are thereby removed from the bone to produce a regenerated acid, and the regenerated acid is returned to the container holding the bone. Both processes allow bone to be rapidly demineralized to a precise and specific desired residual calcium level without sacrificing osteoinductivity.

Apparatus for demineralizing osteoinductive bone

The invention provides a plasticized bone and/or soft tissue product that does not require special conditions of storage, for example refrigeration or freezing, exhibits materials properties that approximate those properties present in natural tissue, is not brittle, does not necessitate rehydration prior to clinical implantation and is not a potential source for disease transmission. Replacement of the chemical plasticizers by water prior to implantation is not required and thus, the plasticized bone or soft tissue product can be placed directly into an implant site without significant preparation in the operating room.

Plasticized bone grafts and methods of making and using same

The invention is directed to a method of debriding bone including incubating the bone and associated soft tissue, with one or more debriding solutions where the debriding solution may include one or more alkaline solutions. Incubation is optionally carried out with one or more debriding agents including inert dry granular or particulate material including for example beads, and the granular phase of an alkaline agent, including for example granular sodium hydroxide. The incubating may be carried out with agitation. In another embodiment, the medullary canal of the bone is subjected to a positive pressure stream of debriding solution under conditions sufficient to loosen the associated soft tissue from the bone at the interface of the soft tissue and bone. In a further embodiment, the debriding solution is provided as a gel.

Method for debriding bone, and bone debrided thereby

The present invention is directed to a textured bone allograft for implantation in a patient, having one or more textured bone surfaces, and methods of making and using the textured bone graft. The textured surface preferably includes a plurality of closely spaced discrete, continuous, or a combination thereof, protrusions. The textured bone allograft is useful for repairing bone defects caused by congenital anomaly, disease, or trauma, in a patient, for example, for restoring vertical support of the anterior column. Implantation of the textured bone allograft results in improved graft stability and osteoinductivity, without a decrease in mechanical strength. The textured bone allograft does not shift, extrude or rotate, after implantation.

Growing community of inventors

Virginia Beach, VA, United States of America

Louis E Ford