Abstract: Osteoarticular allografts are transplanted by techniques which ensure substantial surface contour matching. Specifically, surgical techniques are provided whereby a plug from an osteochondral allograft may be transplanted to a cavity site which remains after a condylar defect is removed from a patient's condyle. In this regard, the present invention essentially includes placing an osteochondral allograft in substantially the same orientation as the patient condyle, and then removing the transplantable plug therefrom and forming the cavity site in the patient condyle while maintaining their relative same orientation. In this manner, the surface of the transplanted plug is matched to the contour of the excised osteochondral tissue.

Abstract: Osteoarticular allografts are transplanted by techniques which ensure substantial surface contour matching. Specifically, surgical techniques are provided whereby a plug from an osteochondral allograft may be transplanted to a cavity site which remains after a condylar defect is removed from a patient's condyle. In this regard, the present invention essentially includes placing an osteochondral allograft in substantially the same orientation as the patient condyle, and then removing the transplantable plug therefrom and forming the cavity site in the patient condyle while maintaining their relative same orientation. In this manner, the surface of the transplanted plug is matched to the contour of the excised osteochondral tissue.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of coating the lumenal surface of a blood vessel, or other tissue cavity, and to compositions suitable for use in same.

Abstract: A method of anastomosing two hollow bodily organs using a bioadhesive. The method involves apposing apertures in the organs to be joined and applying the bioadhesive, thereby joining the apertures in the organs and allowing movement of fluid or semi-solid material from one of the two organs to the second organ. The invention also relates to a device for anastomosing two hollow organs. The device has two inflatable balloons, one of which is placed into the lumen each of the two organs to be joined. Inflation of the balloons holds the apertures together while the bioadhesive is applied. The device allows anastomosis of blood vessels through endoscopic means.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to tissue decellularization and, in particular to a method of treating tissues, for example, heart valves, tendons and ligaments, so as to render them acellular and thereby limit mineralization and/or immunoreactivity upon implementation in vivo.

Abstract: A closed, sterile pulsatile flow loop for studying tissue valves. The system provides both a tool to examine heart valve leaflet fibroblast function and differentiation as these are affected by mechanical loading, as well as an apparatus to provide heart valves seeded with suitable cells. The sterile pulsatile flow system provides a left heart duplicator, which exposes viable tissue valves to a dynamic flow environment imitating that of the aortic valve.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for generating a functional hybrid bioprosthesis. Tissue formed naturally of interstitial collagens is treated to kill native cells and remove potentially immunologically active soluble molecules. Then it may be treated sequentially with extracellular matrix adhesion factor, extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan, and growth factor appropriate to the cell type required to function within the matrix, and incubating the transplant tissue matrix with cells that are either allogeneic or autologous for the recipient thereby imparting to the matrix the characteristics of the cell type and tissue selected. Tissues with a variety of functional bioactivities can thus be formed in vitro prior to graft transplantation or implantation which will exhibit reduced or no stimulation of an immunological response in the recipient.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for generating a functional hybrid bioprosthesis. Tissue formed naturally of interstitial collagens is treated to kill native cells and remove potentially immunologically active soluble molecules. Then it may be treated sequentially with extracellular matrix adhesion factor, extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan, and growth factor appropriate to the cell type required to function within the matrix, and incubating the transplant tissue matrix with cells that are either allogeneic or autologous for the recipient thereby imparting to the matrix the characteristics of the cell type and tissue selected. Tissues with a variety of functional bioactivities can thus be formed in vitro prior to graft transplantation or implantation which will exhibit reduced or no stimulation of an immunological response in the recipient.

Abstract: An antibiotic cocktail for sterilizing tissue comprising amphotericin B and fluconazole as antifungal agents and a plurality of antibacterial agents. The agents are present in amounts effective to substantially inhibit fungal and bacterial growth while substantially maintaining the viability of the tissue. Also, a method of sterilizing a tissue comprising contacting the tissue with the antibiotic cocktails of the invention at a temperature and for a period of time effective to substantially inhibit fungal and bacterial growth while substantially maintaining the viability of the tissue.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for generating a functional hybrid bioprosthesis. Tissue formed naturally of interstitial collagens is treated to kill native cells and remove potentially immunologically active soluble molecules. Then it may be treated sequentially with extracellular matrix adhesion factor, extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan, and growth factor appropriate to the cell type required to function within the matrix, and incubating the transplant tissue matrix with cells that are either allogeneic or autologous for the recipient thereby imparting to the matrix the characteristics of the cell type and tissue selected. Tissues with a variety of functional bioactivities can thus be formed in vitro prior to graft transplantation or implantation which will exhibit reduced or no stimulation of an immunological response in the recipient.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for generating a functional hybrid bioprosthesis. Tissue formed naturally of interstitial collagens is treated to kill native cells and remove potentially immunologically active soluble molecules. Then it may be treated sequentially with extracellular matrix adhesion factor such as fibronectin, extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan such as heparin, and growth factor appropriate to the cell type required to function within the matrix, and incubating the transplant tissue matrix with cells that are either allogeneic or autologous for the recipient thereby imparting to the matrix the characteristics of the cell type and tissue selected. Tissues with a variety of functional bioactivities can thus be formed in vitro prior to graft transplantation or implantation which will exhibit reduced or no stimulation of an immunological response in the recipient.

Abstract: A method of revitalizing cells or tissues that are to be cryopreserved for storage at ultracold temperatures, e.g. -196.degree. C. is disclosed which comprises preincubation of the cells or tissue from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours. The preincubation may be conducted at a temperature ranging from about 27.degree. C. to about 42.degree. C., after which the tissue or cells are cryopreserved.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple, safe and effective method for treating bone and making it suitable for transplantation comprising: (a) contacting said bone with a global decontaminating agent effective to inactivate bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites; (b) cleaning said bone; and (c) terminally decontaminating said cleaned bone by contacting it with a global decontaminating agent effective to inactivate bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites. The invention also provides a method of cleaning bone which can be used in step (b) of the method described above and comprises contacting the bone with detergent under high pressure washing conditions at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the formulation of fibrin sealant in a single delivery system. The method involves mixing a fibrinogen/Factor XIII precipitate solution with thrombin under conditions such that thrombin clotting activity is inhibited and said mixture is applied to a body site under conditions which activate the thrombin to convert fibrinogen into fibrin sealant. A single device, syringe or container, can be used to apply the fibrin sealant formulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of purifying native, intact fibrinogen from a liquid sample containing contaminants having molecular weights higher and/or lower than that of the fibrinogen. The method comprises subjecting the sample to filtration using one or more filters having a molecular weight cut-off such that the native, intact fibrinogen is separated from the contaminants.

Abstract: A three-envelope package for preserving tissue specimens or other sterile objects. A sterile tissue sample is sealed within an innermost envelope sterile inside and out. The innermost envelope is sealed within the sterile interior of an intermediate envelope equipped with a peel-back seal for subsequent opening. Both the inside and the outside of the intermediate envelope are sterile. The intermediate envelope is sealed within the sterile interior of an outermost envelope, made of foil or another substance impermeable to a storage medium, such as liquid nitrogen. The outermost envelope provides complete impermeability to liquid nitrogen, eliminating the possibility of nitrogen seepage through the peel-back seal of the intermediate envelope. When the envelope package is removed from storage, the intermediate envelope is removed from the outermost envelope and can be opened in an assumed non-sterile environment, without contaminating the innermost envelope or the tissue specimen therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the formulation of fibrin sealant in a single delivery system. The method involves mixing a fibrinogen/Factor XIII precipitate solution with thrombin under conditions such that thrombin clotting activity is inhibited and said mixture is applied to a body site under conditions which activate the thrombin to convert fibrinogen into fibrin sealant. A single device, syringe or container, can be used to apply the fibrin sealant formulation.

Abstract: A method of revitalizing cells or tissues that are to be cryopresserved for storage at ultracold temperatures, e.g. -196.degree. C. is disclosed which comprises preincubation of the cells or tissue from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours. The preincubation may be conducted at a temperature ranging from about 27.degree. C. to 42.degree. C., after which the tissue or cells are cryopreserved.

Abstract: A three-envelope package for preserving tissue specimens or other sterile objects. A sterile tissue sample is sealed within an innermost envelope sterile inside and out. The innermost envelope is sealed within the sterile interior of an intermediate envelope equipped with a peel-back seal for subsequent opening. Both the inside and the outside of the intermediate envelope are sterile. The intermediate envelope is sealed within the sterile interior of an outermost envelope, made of foil or another substance impermeable to a storage medium, such as liquid nitrogen. The outermost envelope provides complete impermeability to liquid nitrogen, eliminating the possibility of nitrogen seepage through the peel-back seal of the intermediate envelope. When the envelope package is removed from storage, the intermediate envelope is removed from the outermost envelope and can be opened in an assumed non-sterile environment, without contaminating the innermost envelope or the tissue specimen therein.

Abstract: A three-envelope package for preserving tissue specimens or other sterile objects. A sterile tissue sample is sealed within an innermost envelope sterile inside and out. The innermost envelope is sealed within the sterile interior of an intermediate envelope equipped with a peel-back seal for subsequent opening. Both the inside and the outside of the intermediate envelope are sterile. The intermediate envelope is sealed within the sterile interior of an outermost envelope, made of foil or another substance impermeable to a storage medium, such as liquid nitrogen. The outermost envelope provides complete impermeability to liquid nitrogen, eliminating the possibility of nitrogen seepage through the peel-back seal of the intermediate envelope. When the envelope package is removed from storage, the intermediate envelope is removed from the outermost envelope and can be opened in an assumed non-sterile environment, without contaminating the innermost envelope or the tissue specimen therein.