Sulzer Orthopedics Inc.

Zimmer Orthobiologics, Inc.

Sulzer Innotec Ag

Sulzer Medizinaltechnik

Pedro Bittmann

Franz Rieser

Werner Muller

Pierre Mainil-Varlet

Daniel Nadler

Christoph P Saager

Brent Lee Atkinson

John Paul Ranieri

James John Benedict

Donald Chickering

Marsha L Whitney

Eric Dardel

Jörg Auer

Margarete Akens

Brigitte Rechenberg

Werner Mueller-Glauser

Brigitte Von Rechenberg

Margarete K Akens

Repairs of cartilage defects or of cartilage/bone defects in human or animal joints with the help of devices including a bone part (), a cartilage layer () and a subchondral bone plate () or an imitation of such a plate in the transition region between the cartilage layer () and the bone part (). After implantation, the bone part () is resorbed and is replaced by reparative tissue only after being essentially totally resorbed. In a critical phase of the healing process, a mechanically inferior cyst is located in the place of the implanted bone part (). In order to prevent the cartilage layer () from sinking into the cyst space during this critical phase of the healing process the device has a top part (). and a bottom part (), wherein the top part () consists essentially of the cartilage layer () and the subchondral bone plate () and the bottom part () corresponds essentially to the bone part () and wherein the top part () parallel to the subchondral bone plate () has a larger diameter than the bottom part (). After implantation in a suitable opening or bore (), the cartilage layer () and the subchondral bone plate () are supported not only on the bone part () but also on native bone tissue having a loading capacity not changing during the healing process. Therefore, the implanted cartilage layer cannot sink during the healing process.

Preparation for repairing cartilage defects or cartilage/bone defects in human or animal joints

Repairs of cartilage defects or of cartilage/bone defects in human or animal joints with the help of devices including a bone part (), a cartilage layer () and a subchondral bone plate () or an imitation of such a plate in the transition region between the cartilage layer () and the bone part (). After implantation, the bone part () is resorbed and is replaced by reparative tissue only after being essentially totally resorbed. In a critical phase of the healing process, a mechanically inferior cyst is located in the place of the implanted bone part (). In order to prevent the cartilage layer () from sinking into the cyst space during this critical phase of the healing process the device has a top part () and a bottom part (), wherein the top part () consists essentially of the cartilage layer () and the subchondral bone plate () and the bottom part () corresponds essentially to the bone part () and wherein the top part () parallel to the subchondral bone plate () has a larger diameter than the bottom part (). After implantation in a suitable opening or bore (), the cartilage layer () and the subchondral bone plate () are supported not only on the bone part () but also on native bone tissue having a loading capacity not changing during the healing process. Therefore, the implanted cartilage layer cannot sink during the healing process.

The composition as described serves for in vivo cartilage repair. It basically consists of a naturally derived osteoinductive and/or chondroinductive mixture of factors (e.g. derived from bone) or of a synthetic mimic of such a mixture combined with a nanosphere delivery system. A preferred mixture of factors is the combination of factors isolated from bone, known as BP and described by Poser and Benedict (WO 95/13767). The nanosphere delivery system consists of nanospheres defined as polymer particles of less than 1000 nm in diameter (whereby the majority of particles preferably ranges between 200-400 nm) in which nanospheres the combination of factors is encapsulated. The nanospheres are loaded with the mixture of factors in a weight ratio of 0.001 to 17% (w/w), preferably of 1 to 4% (w/w) and have a release profile with an initial burst of 10 to 20% of the total load over the first 24 hours and a long time release of at least 0.1 per day during at least seven following days. The nanospheres are composed of e.g. ((D,L)-lactic acid/glycolic acid)-copolymer (PLGA). The loaded nanospheres are e.g. made by phase inversion. The composition is advantageously utilized as a device comprising any biodegradable matrix in which the nanospheres loaded with the factor combination is contained.

Composition and device for in vivo cartilage repair

Cartilage tissue and implants comprising tissue are produced in vitro starting from cells having the ability to form an extracellular cartilage matrix. Such cells are brought into a cell space ( ) and are left in this cell space for producing an extracellular cartilage matrix. The cells are brought into the cell space to have a cell density of ca. 5&times;10 to 10 cells per cm of cell space. The cell space ( ) is at least partly separated from a culture medium space ( ) surrounding the cell space by means of a semi-permeable wall ( ) or by an open-pore wall acting as convection barrier. The open-pore wall can be designed as a plate ( ) made of a bone substitute material and constituting the bottom of the cell space ( ). The cells settle on such a plate ( ) and the cartilage tissue growing in the cell space ( ). The cells settle on such a plate ( ) and the cartilage tissue growing in the cell space ( ) grows into pores or surface roughness of the plate, whereby an implant forms which consists of a bone substitute plate ( ) and a cartilage layer covering the plate and whereby the two implant parts are connected to each other in positively engaged manner by being grown together.

Method for producing cartilage tissue and implants for repairing enchondral and osteochondral defects as well as arrangement for carrying out the method

Cartilage tissue and implants comprising cartilage tissue are produced in vitro starting from cells having the ability to form an extracellular cartilage matrix. Such cells are brought into a cell space (,) and are left in this cell space for producing an extracellular cartilage matrix. The cells are brought into the cell space to have a cell density of ca. 5&times;10,to 10,cells per cm,of cell space. The cell space (,) is at least partly separated from a culture medium space (,) surrounding the cell space by a semi-permeable wall (,) or by an open-pore wall acting as convection barrier. The open-pore wall can be designed as a plate (,) made of a bone substitute material and constituting the bottom of the cell space (,). The cells settle on such a plate (,) and the cartilage tissue growing in the cell space (,) grows into pores or surface roughness of the plate, whereby an implant forms which consists of a bone substitute plate (,) and a cartilage layer covering the plate and whereby the two implant parts are connected to each other in positively engaged manner by being grown together.

Method for making cartilage and implants

A process for the production of prostheses wherein endogenic tissue material is substantially mechanically comminuted and, if necessary, additionally enzymatically digested to tissue particles, whose sizes fall within very narrow limits. A preshaped carrier material is treated with the resultant suspension. In the case of a porous carrier material the suspension is filtered through the material, whereas with less or non-porous carrier material the suspension is applied to the material surface by centrifuging. Unlike the case of corresponding prior art processes, as a result of this improvement, the process according to the invention can be performed very rapidly, i.e., directly during the operation and in a closed system.

Process for preparing a porous graft containing endothelial cells

Growing community of inventors

Zurich, Switzerland

Pedro Bittmann