Abstract: For the repair of a cartilage defect in a human or animal patient use is made of an implant comprising an implant body including a natural cartilage matrix and being coated with cells having a chondrogenic potential. These cells are produced by in vitro cell proliferation starting from chondrocytes isolated from a cartilage biopsy. The chondrocytes which are de-differentiated during cell proliferation are re-differentiated during tissue culturing and are in particular suitable for producing and maintaining the cartilage matrix of the implant body. The cells adhering to the surface of the implant body are preferably also chondrocytes being de-differentiated by cell proliferation, but not re-differentiated, and are therefore particularly suitable for integrating the implant in the defect. Due to the cells adhering to the surface of the implant body, the implant is successfully integrated in the viable tissue surrounding the defect.

Abstract: Provided herein are preparations for repairing enchondral or osteochondral defects (4) by implantation, said preparations comprising a cartilage element (A) and optionally a bone element (B) which is connected to the cartilage element (A). The cartilage element (A) can contain cells during the implantation or is populated after the implantation with cells migrating from surrounding tissue. The aim is to better equip the cartilage element (A) of one such preparation for integration into the surrounding tissue and/or for an easy-to-achieve, primary stability. To this end, said cartilage element is not homogeneously embodied but has different characteristics in a peripheral and/or basal region (2, 3) to those in a central region (3). Said differing characteristics (A) relate to the structure and/or composition of the matrix used and/or to the cells established in the matrix, and are not used to prevent the migration of cells into the preparation from the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to preparations which are suitable for repairing enchondral or osteochondral defects (4) by means of implantation, said preparations comprising a cartilage element (A) and optionally a bone element (B) which is connected to the cartilage element (A). The cartilage element (A) can already contain cells during the implantation or is populated after the implantation with cells migrating from surrounding tissue. The aim of the invention is to better equip the cartilage element (A) of one such preparation for integration into the surrounding tissue and/or for an easy-to-achieve, primary stability. To this end, said cartilage element is not homogeneously embodied but has different characteristics in a peripheral and/or basal region (2, 3) to those in a central region (3).

Abstract: For the repair of a cartilage defect in a human or animal patient, e.g. a full thickness articular cartilage defect, use is made of an implant (1) comprising an implant body (2) including a natural cartilage matrix and being coated with cells having a chondrogenic potential, preferably autologous cells. Preferably, the implant body consists of autologous cartilage tissue with viable chondrocytes integrated therein which cartilage tissue is produced by in vitro tissue culturing. Preferably, the cells for producing the cartilage tissue and for coating the implant body surfaces are the same. These cells are produced by in vitro cell proliferation starting from chondrocytes isolated from a cartilage biopsy. The chondrocytes which are de-differentiated during cell proliferation are re-differentiated during tissue culturing and are in particular suitable for producing and maintaining the cartilage matrix of the implant body.

Abstract: The invention relates to preparations which are suitable for repairing enchondral or osteochondral defects (4) by means of implantation, said preparations comprising a cartilage element (A) and optionally a bone element (B) which is connected to the cartilage element (A). The cartilage element (A) can already contain cells during the implantation or is populated after the implantation with cells migrating from surrounding tissue. The aim of the invention is to better equip the cartilage element (A) of one such preparation for integration into the surrounding tissue and/or for an easy-to-achieve, primary stability. To this end, said cartilage element is not homogeneously embodied but has different characteristics in a peripheral and/or basal region (2, 3) to those in a central region (3).

Abstract: In the method of a photo-oxidative treatment of tissue containing collagen tissue, the tissue is pre-treated with an aqueous conditioning solution prior to an irradiation with light. In this pre-treatment the tissue permeable to the solution is loaded with a dye contained in the solution, in particular with methylene blue. This dye, activated by light, catalyzes photo-oxidative reactions. In accordance with the invention a substance is added to the conditioning solution, the refractive index of which is greater than that of water. As a result of this additive, the tissue containing collagen assumes a greater transparency for light during the pre-treatment.

Abstract: This invention provides an implant (prosthesis) for the replacement of defective biological tissue part. In particular, the implants of this invention are well suited for the replacement of cartilage, more preferably for the replacement of articular cartilage. In one embodiment, the implants comprise a micromatrix constructed from an upper boundary layer and a lower boundary layer where the upper and said lower boundary layers are connected via an intermediate layer with fibers. The implant also includes a nanomatrix situated within the intermediate layer. The nanomatrix contains elements of a size on the order of magnitude of nanometers. The intermediate layer accommodates the nanomatrix such that, for a growing inner pressure the boundary layers are mutually held at a preset distance from one another.

Abstract: The method of comminution of soft tissue (4) from animal or human bodies is performed by a mechanism (10) which exhibits a supply vessel (1), cutter member (2) and collector (3) and forms a closure impermeable to germs against the environment The tissue is removed from the body in a sterile environment, and filled into the supply vessel of the opened mechanism. After the supply vessel has been assembled together with the clutter member and the collector into a mechanism ready for operation, by the employment of pressure-exerting means, preferably compressed gas (11'), the tissue is delivered from the supply vessel into the collector, the tissue being comminuted at the same time by the cutter member.

Abstract: The container for packing hollow endoprostheses (8) comprises two germ-proof wrappings (1, 2). In accordance with the invention the inner wrapping (1) consists of a water-tight wall (10, 11) and various connection points (40, 50, 60). At least two of the connection points (40) are provided as access into the cavity of the prosthesis (8) and one is provided as an outlet (50) for liquids for treating the prosthesis. The outer wrapping (2) comprises through-pieces (42, 52, 62), which are associated with the connection points of the inner wrapping. The two wrappings are permeable to gas at least some regions. In accordance with the invention the container has a second application apart from its protective function: for example, in the case of a hybrid prosthesis for vascular replacement, to perform the charging of the prosthesis with the patient's own endothelial cells in the container.

Abstract: A prosthesis wall for an artificial organ, e.g. an artificial arterial blood vessel, to be coated without gaps on one side with biologically active epithelial, e.g. endothelial cells is provided with a structure of open continuous micropores a few microns in size. The pore size is limited to between 0.1 and 3 microns, at least on the surface to be coated with cells with the thickness of the partitions between the pores being not more than 3 microns to permit a continuous layer of endothelial cells with prolonged and firm adhesion to the prosthesis to be subsequently formed.

Abstract: The arterial vessel is made of a microporous membrane having pores which are filled with a permeable gel or which are closed over by a thin porous layer. A monolayer of endothelial cells is provided on the internal surface for exposure to the blood flow and smooth muscle cells are layered on the outer surface for increasing the viability of the live cells on the membrane and to impart elasticity. A support structure formed of a braided construction of monofilaments of inert material can be provided to limit dilation of the vessel.

Abstract: The artificial vessel has a membrane of at least semi-permeable bio-inert synthetic material with a monolayer of endothelial cells on the internal surface and a layer of smooth elastic fiber-generating muscle cells on the outer surface. The membrane may be made pore-less or may be made with a network of opened micropores filled with an aqueous gel to provide a smooth internal surface on which the endothelial cells may be coated.

Abstract: The repository probe or drug dispenser consists of a tube which is divided into a probe head and a probe end part. In addition, a series of medicine carriers are disposed in the probe head which contain active ingredients and which have an axial length of at most three times the outside diameter of the tube. In addition, openings are provided in the tube transversely of each medicine carrier for the passage of fluids. Joint zones are provided between the segments of the tube in which the medicine carriers are placed. Because of the limitation on the axial length of the medicine carriers and the joint zones, the flexibility of the probe head between the relatively stiff medicine carriers is increased without distortion or a closing of the openings to the medicine carriers when deflecting the probe.

Abstract: A process for adding water to a concrete mix wherein, after addition of an initial quantity of water to bring a particular concrete mix to or close to a so-called zero consistency, the set point consistency is reached by the one-shot addition of the balance of the water determined from stored empirical and interpolated data based upon measuring consistency and water addition values. The method has the advantage that the establishment of a zero value consistency by the addition of water to the dry mix or a mix of unknown moisture content permits the consistency measurement at this point to be easily carried out by indirect electrical techniques.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling the water added to concrete batches wherein for a given concrete recipe and batch size, while mixing same, a series of empirical values of water quantity and consistency of the resulting mix are determined by initially feeding a quantity of water to the batch reduced by an amount equivalent to the moisture content of the aggregates of the batch at maximum intrinsic moisture content and thereafter incrementally adding water while measuring the consistency after each water addition, and these values are stored for the respective recipe and batch size. For the addition of water to a further batch of the recipe, while mixing the further batch, an initial quantity of water is added to the further batch which is not reduced by the quantity of water equivalent to the moisture contents of the aggregates and the consistency of the further batch after the initial addition of water thereto is measured.