Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing cartilage tissue by selecting and choosing from chondrocytes or spheroids, and use thereof as pharmaceutical composition, medicinal product or transplant. In particular, the invention relates to markers for identifying suitable chondrocytes for producing cartilage tissue, in particular for the purpose of transplantation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the in vitro production of intervertebral disk cartilage cell transplants from affected intervertebral disk tissue from patients and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks. The invention also relates to a three-dimensional, vital, and mechanically stable intervertebral disk cartilage tissue and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks and in testing active substances. Furthermore, the invention is directed to the surgical technique for incorporating the transplants, to the intervertebral disk cell transplants and intervertebral disk cartilage tissues produced, and to therapeutic formulations, e.g. injection solutions, which include said tissue and said cell transplants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the in vitro production of intervertebral disk cartilage cell transplants from affected intervertebral disk tissue from patients and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks. The invention also relates to a three-dimensional, vital, and mechanically stable intervertebral disk cartilage tissue and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks and in testing active substances. Furthermore, the invention is directed to the surgical technique for incorporating the transplants, to the intervertebral disk cell transplants and intervertebral disk cartilage tissues produced, and to therapeutic formulations, e.g. injection solutions, which include said tissue and said cell transplants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the in vitro production of intervertebral disk cartilage cell transplants from affected intervertebral disk tissue from patients and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks. The invention also relates to a three-dimensional, vital, and mechanically stable intervertebral disk cartilage tissue and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks and in testing active substances. Furthermore, the invention is directed to the surgical technique for incorporating the transplants, to the intervertebral disk cell transplants and intervertebral disk cartilage tissues produced, and to therapeutic formulations, e.g. injection solutions, which include said tissue and said cell transplants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preserved, deantigenated tissue matrix of an animal or human hollow organ, e.g. of a blood vessel, of the ureter or urinary bladder, which matrix is autologous, allogenic or xenogenic with respect to a recipient and whose biomechanical properties are not or only slightly impaired by such preservation, which does not include any infectious particles from the donor and is excellently suited for coating with recipient endothelial, epithelial, fibroblast, or muscle cells in order to produce autologous grafts for said recipient. The invention is also directed to a method of producing said tissue matrix and to the use thereof, as well as to the autologous graft produced therefrom, and to the production and use thereof.

Abstract: In a method for inserting an implant, such as a biological or artificial heart valve into a human organ, first the implant is provided with an adapter element, then a receiver element that is adapted to fit the adapter element is sutured to the recipient organ, and finally the adapter element is connected to the receiver element. The receiver element and the adapter element are each ring-shaped and are provided with matched interengageable threadings. They are connected with one another by relative rotation via a self-locking bayonet lock. Before being connected to the receiver element, the implant together with the adapter element are coated with living cells. Both the receiver element and the adapter element respectively have flanges that include elements for being sutured together with the recipient organ or the implant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preserved, deantigenated tissue matrix of an animal or human hollow organ, e.g. of a blood vessel, of the ureter or urinary bladder, which matrix is autologous, allogenic or xenogenic with respect to a recipient and whose biomechanical properties are not or only slightly impaired by such preservation, which does not include any infectious particles from the donor and is excellently suited for coating with recipient endothelial, epithelial, fibroblast, or muscle cells in order to produce autologous grafts for said recipient. The invention is also directed to a method of producing said tissue matrix and to the use thereof, as well as to the autologous graft produced therefrom, and to the production and use thereof.

Abstract: To coat a surface of a medical implant such as an organ part or a synthetic prosthesis with a coating of living cells, the implant is inserted and fixed into a receiving container which is at least partially filled with a nutritive liquid medium containing the coating cells in suspension. Then the receiving container is rotated respectively about two distinct rotation axes, whereby preferably the two rotation motions are independently controllable and the two axes are substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the two rotation motions can be a continuous rotation through 360°, or a stepwise intermittent rotation through successive rotational angle steps. The parameters of the two rotations about the two axes can be combined as needed for a particular application, for example a continuous rotation about one axis combined with a stepwise rotation about the other axis. The time period and rotational speed of each rotation can also be independently controlled.