Abstract: Methods and products for rapidly sealing a fluid leak in a tissue are provided. A polymerizable protein is applied to a tissue having an opening which creates a fluid leak in the tissue, in order to seal the opening. The tissue area and opening coated with the polymerizable protein are exposed to an initiator in order to polymerize the covering in situ, and create a seal over the opening that prevents fluid leakage. The methods and products to the invention may be used, for example, to seal airholes in lung injuries and to seal anastomoses and suture lines for blood vessels.

Abstract: The invention is a template to aid in the regeneration of articular cartilage. The template is formed by combining a porous collagen sponge ("collagen matrix") with a dense collagen membrane. The dense collagen membrane is placed on the surface of the cartilage defect to prevent cell migration from the subchondral plate and vasculature. The collagen membrane will allow movement and exchange of fluids, nutrients, cytokines and other factors necessary for cartilage regeneration. The collagen matrix has been developed to allow attachment and growth of cells, specifically chondrocytes which are normally found in articular cartilage. The collagen matrix can be combined with chondrocytes in vitro, and therefore serve to transport cultured cells to the defect site and to retain the cells in position following implantation. Procedures are described to effectively use the two-staged template, and to fix the template to the repair site.

Abstract: An attachment method to hold a biomaterial in place until healing occurs. The method consists of anchoring sutures through the subchondral plate into bony tissue with at least two lines emerging from the surface. The anchored suture lines are then pulled through the implant at its four quadrants, and is thus used to secure the cartilage repair material into the wound site.

Abstract: A method of bonding collagen to synthetic polyester fibers, particularly DACRON. The method involves providing synthetic polyester fabric fibers having repeating carbonyl groups, hydrogenating the repeating carbonyl groups and then conducting a transesterification step which includes the addition of free amine groups. The free amine groups are reacted with a bifunctional crosslinking agent to produce modified polyester fibers. The final step involves adding collagen to the modified polyester fibers for a time sufficient to produce covalent bonding of the collagen to the fibers.The invention also involves the making of a fabric matrix comprised of synthetic polyester fibers, particularly DACRON, and collagen being covalently bound to the fibers. Such matrix can be utilized in ligament prosthesis design.

Abstract: A process for extracting type I collagen from an avian source such as poultry feet that incorporates a fibrillar mass of connective tissue as well as bony tissue to yield a collagen product having useful medical and biotechnology applications. In this process, after being cleaned and decontaminated, the poultry feet are comminuted and then enzyme-treated to enhance the yield. The enzyme-treated comminuted material which is rich in collagen is dispersed in an organic acid to cause the fibrillar mass to undergo controlled swelling, after which the mass is separated from the bony tissue and purified to remove non-collangenous material. The purified mass is dried to provide the desired Type I collagen product which may be ground into a powder or formed into a collagen matrix or sponge, depending on the end use therefor.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising a crosslinked collagen matrix; a bioabsorbable adhesive coated on one surface of the collagen matrix; a multilayer polymer film imparting pre-selected moisture vapor and gas transmissivity to the dressing, secured to the opposite surface of the collagen matrix; and an adhesive securing the collagen matrix to the polymer film.

Abstract: Collagen-based compositions for augmenting soft tissue, wound dressings, implants, injectable formulations or other drug delivery systems, comprising resorbable collagen matrix beads, the beads having an average pore size of from 50 to 350 microns, and the collagen comprising from 1 to 30% by volume of the beads, the collagen matrix being sufficiently open to stimulate cellular ingrowth therethrough and yet sufficiently stiff and non-compressible to fill and protect a wound, and the formulation being sufficiently moisture and gas permeable to prevent liquid pooling on a wound and to permit sufficient oxygen diffusion for promoting wound healing.