The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 12, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 12, 1996
Frederick D Quinn, Decatur, GA (US);
Kristin A Birkness, Atlanta, GA (US);
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an artificial organ system comprising an endothelial cell layer, an epithelial cell layer and an artificial microporous membrane, having pores therein, disposed between and in direct contact with the endothelial cell layer and the epithelial cell layer such that the membrane has an endothelial side and an epithelial side. The present invention also provides an artificial organ system contained in a vessel comprising an upper chamber into which the epithelial side faces and containing the epithelial cell layer, and a lower chamber into which the endothelial side faces and containing the endothelial cells. The present invention also provides an artificial lung system comprising an endothelial cell layer, an alveolar epithelial cell layer and an artificial microporous membrane, having pores therein, disposed between and in direct contact with the endothelial cell layer and the alveolar epithelial cell layer such that the membrane has an endothelial side and an epithelial side. A method is also provided for constructing an artificial lung system, comprising placing an artificial microporous membrane, having pores therein, into a vessel having a bottom and supporting the membrane a distance from the bottom of the vessel to create an upper and lower chamber in the vessel such that the membrane has an endothelial side facing into the lower chamber of the vessel and an opposite epithelial side facing into the upper chamber of the vessel; placing endothelial cells into the upper chamber of the vessel under conditions such that the endothelial cells form a confluent layer of cells on the epithelial side of the membrane; and placing alveolar epithelial cells into the upper chamber of the vessel under conditions such that the endothelial cells migrate through the pores in the membrane and attach to the endothelial side of the membrane to form a confluent layer of the endothelial cells on the endothelial side of the membrane in the lower chamber and the alveolar epithelial cells form a confluent layer of the epithelial cells on the epithelial side of the membrane in the upper chamber.