Abstract: A tissue graft construct for use in repairing diseased or damaged tissues is provided. The tissue graft construct comprises a matrix composition selected from the group consisting of liver basement membrane and extracts and hydrolysates thereof, and processed collagen from vertebrate non-submucosal sources, added endothelial cells, and at least one additional preselected, exogenous population of cells which enhance the initiation of vessel-like structures in the grant. The preselected population of cells can be a population of non-keratinized or keratinized epithelial cells or a population of mesodermally derived cells selected from the group consisting of fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, multi-potential progenitor cells, pericytes, osteogenic cells, and any other suitable cell type, preferably selected based on the tissue to be repaired.

Abstract: An intestinal submucosa tissue graft construct for use in repairing diseased or damaged tissues is provided. The graft construct comprises vertebrate intestinal submucosa tissue, added endothelial cells, and at least one additional preselected, exogenous population of cells which enhances initiation of the formation of vessel-like structures in the graft. The preselected population of cells can be a population of non-keratinized or keratinized epithelial cells or a population of mesodermally derived cells selected from the group consisting of fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, multi-potential progenitor cells, pericytes, osteogenic cells, and any other suitable cell type, preferably selected based on the tissue to be repaired. Methods for enhancing the vascularization in vivo of these intestinal submucosa tissue graft constructs and for preparing these graft constructs are also provided.

Abstract: An improved tissue graft construct comprising submucosa of a warm-blooded vertebrate and a preselected group of eukaryotic cells are described. The improved tissue graft constructs can be used in accordance with the present invention to enhance the repair of damaged or diseased tissues in vivo.

Abstract: A tissue graft construct and method for repairing the inner linings of damaged or diseased vertebrate vessels is described. The method comprises the steps of positioning a tissue graft construct within a blood vessel at a site in need of repair. The tissue graft construct comprises a stent (3) covered with submucosal tissue (4) wherein the stent (3) is formed for receiving the distal end of a catheter (1) having an inflatable balloon (2).

Abstract: An improved tissue graft construct comprising submucosa of a warm-blooded vertebrate and a preselected group of eukaryotic cells are described. The improved tissue graft constructs can be used in accordance with the present invention to enhance the repair of damaged or diseased tissues in vivo.

Abstract: A tissue graft construct and method for repairing the inner linings of damaged or diseased vertebrate vessels is described. The method comprises the steps of positioning a tissue graft construct within a blood vessel at a site in need of repair. The tissue graft construct comprises a stent (3) covered with submucosal tissue (4) wherein the stent (3) is formed for receiving the distal end of a catheter (1) having an inflatable balloon (2).

Abstract: A tissue graft composition comprising liver basement membrane is described. The graft composition can be implanted to replace or induce the repair of damaged or diseased tissues.

Abstract: A cell culture growth substrate comprising submucosal tissue of a warm-blooded vertebrate and a method for culturing fastidious organisms is described. Submucosal tissue used in accordance with the present invention supports the proliferation of cells when said cells are contacted with submucosal tissue under conditions conducive to cell proliferation.

Abstract: A tissue graft composition comprising liver basement membrane is described. The graft composition can be implanted to replace or induce the repair of damaged or diseased tissues.

Abstract: A method for preparing a bioactive extract from warm-blooded vertebrate submucosal tissue is described. The submucosal tissue is extracted using an aqueous solution of extraction excipients, and the extracted bioactive components are then separated from the extraction excipients to provide an isolated extract enriched in bioactive components. The isolated extract is useful, inter alia, as additive for cell growth media to promote cell growth and proliferation in vitro.

Abstract: A tissue graft composition comprising submucosal tissue that has been enzymatically treated with galactosidase is described. The galactosidase modified submucosal tissue can be implanted to replace or support damaged or diseased tissues or utilized to form a cell culture growth substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tissue graft constructs useful in promoting regrowth and healing of damaged or diseased nuerological related tissue structures. More particularly this invention is directed to a submucosa tissue graft construct and a method of inducing the formation of endogenous neurological structures at a site in need of endogenous neurological related tissue growth.

Abstract: An easy-to-produce and mechanically strong tube of an implantable submucosal tissue has been developed which is manufactured in any desired length, wall thickness, or diameter. The construct produced by the method of the invention may be used as grafts for arteries, veins, ureters, urethras, shunts, or in any application where a compliant, tissue-compatible tube is needed. The manufacture of the submucosal tissue prosthesis generally involves wrapping a first sheet of submucosal tissue (60) and a second sheet of submucosal tissue (70) around a mandrel (50), wherein the first end (74) and the second opposite end (76) of the second sheet of submucosal tissue (70) are sutured together with sutures (78). The submucosal tissue is compressed and dried on the mandrel (50) before removing the construct by pulling on a first end (54) and a second end (56) of a water permeable tape to unwind the tape and thus release the construct for eventual use.

Abstract: A method for preparing vascular valves from submucosal tissue is described. Both bicuspid and tricuspid valve constructs are described. The bicuspid constructs can be formed with or without a supporting stent. The tricuspid constructs are formed by fixing submucosal tissue to a supporting stent, folding the submucosal tissue, and forming the valve commissures from the folded submucosal tissue by cutting along the folds. The artificial vascular valves are useful for replacing damaged or diseased valves of a warm-blooded vertebrate.

Abstract: A tissue graft composition comprising stomach submucosal tissue delaminated from both the luminal portion of the tunica mucosa and the smooth muscle layers of the muscularis externa of a stomach of a warm blooded vertebrate is described. The graft composition can be or implanted into a host to replace or support damaged or diseased tissues.

Abstract: The use of submucosal tissue of a warm blooded vertebrate to manufacture a tissue graft composition that induces the formation of endogenous cardiac tissues in vivo upon contact of the cardiac tissues with the manufactured composition.

Abstract: A device for analyzing the in-vitro growth properties of cells is disclosed. The device comprises an upper and lower chamber separated by a growth substrate interface comprising submucosa, preferably tunical submucosa, from a warm-blooded vertebrae. Methods for culturing eukaryotic cells and studying their growth characteristics, including the invasive growth characteristics of tumor cells, on the submucosal matrix are described.

Abstract: A perforated unitary multi-laminar tissue graft construct and method for preparing such construct is described. The method comprises overlapping strips of submucosa tissue with other strips of submucosal tissue, compressing at least the overlapped portions of said strips between two surfaces under conditions that allow or promote dehydration of the compressed submucosa sheets, and perforating the resulting unitary tissue graft construct. The perforated tissue graft compositions have enhanced mechanical and remodeling properties relative to non-perforated submucosal tissue grafts.

Abstract: A perforated unitary multi-laminar tissue graft construct and method for preparing such construct is described. The method comprises overlapping strips of submucosa tissue with other strips of submucosal tissue, compressing at least the overlapped portions of said strips between two surfaces under conditions that allow or promote dehydration of the compressed submucosa sheets, and perforating the resulting unitary tissue graft construct. The perforated tissue graft compositions have enhanced mechanical and remodeling properties relative to non-perforated submucosal tissue grafts.

Abstract: Multi-laminar tissue graft constructs, pseudoisotropic graft constructs and a method of preparing such constructs are described. Multi-laminar tissue graft constructs are prepared by fusing partially overlapped strips of submucosa tissue into a unitary graft construct by compressing the tissue under dehydrating conditions. Pseudoisotropic tissue graft constructs are prepared by overlapping a first strip of submucosa tissue with at least two strips of submucosa tissue orientated so that the longitudinal axis of each strip formts an angle of about 180.degree./N with the longitudinal axes of at least two other strips of submucosal tissue.