Sulzer Orthopedics Inc.

Zimmer Gmbh

Sulzer Orthopadie Ag

Pierre Mainil-Varlet

Werner Muller

Franz Rieser

Christoph P Saager

Werner Muller-Glauser

Manfred Zech

Shawn P Grogan

Werner Müller

Thomas Schaffner

Christoph Saager

A transplant/implant device for delivering at least one predetermined biologically active compound to a human or animal host system or for another biological function in the host system is produced by genetically engineering vital chondrocytes or mixing chondrocytes with another type of native or genetically engineered cells or mixing chondrocytes with artificial particles having a size comparable to the size of cells or combining at least two of the named steps of engineering or mixing and by subjecting the chondrocytes or the mixture comprising the chondrocytes to three dimensional culture conditions for in vitro production of cartilaginous tissue whereby the cells and/or the artificial particles are immobilized in the cartilaginous tissue. The chondrocytes produce and maintain the cartilaginous tissue and the chondrocytes themselves or cells of another cell type immobilized in the cartilaginous tissue are able to produce and secrete the at least one predetermined compound.

Transplant/implant device and method for its production

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

Apparatus for the production of endochondral or osteochondral bores

Growing community of inventors

Bern, Switzerland

Pierre Mainil-Varlet