Abstract: The invention relates to truncated growth factors and variants thereof. The invention also relates to methods of making and using the truncated growth factors.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a process for implanting a cartilage graft into a cartilage defect and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue. The invention is also directed towards a process for repairing a cartilage defect and implanting a cartilage graft into a human or animal. The invention is further directed toward a repaired cartilage defect.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of growing new bone, bone-like tissue or extracellular matrix under in vitro cell culture conditions. The method utilizes a bioreactor allowing for the flow of nutrient solutions into, through, and out of the bioreactor, wherein ground demineralized bone and bone-forming cells are present in the bioreactor. The resulting bone, bone-like tissue or extracellular matrix produced by the invention are within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the present invention is directed to the bioreactor device used to grow the new bone, bone-like tissue, or extracellular matrix.

Abstract: The invention is directed to producing a shaped cartilage matrix isolated from a human or animal where the cartilage has been crafted to facilitate disinfection, cleaning, devitalization, recellularization, and/or integration after implantation. The invention relates to a process for repairing a cartilage defect and implantation of a cartilage graft into a human or animal by crafting the cartilage matrix into individual grafts, disinfecting and cleaning the cartilage graft, applying a pretreatment solution to the cartilage graft, removing cellular debris using an extracting solution to produce a devitalized cartilage graft, implanting the cartilage graft into the cartilage defect with or without an insertion device, and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue. The devitalized cartilage graft is optionally recellularized in vitro, in vivo, or in situ with viable cells to render the tissue vital before or after the implantation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward recellularizing a devitalized cartilage graft with viable recellularizable cells in vivo, in situ, or in vitro to render the tissue vital. The present invention is also directed toward repairing a cartilage defect and implanting a cartilage graft into a human or animal by crafting a cartilage matrix into individual grafts, disinfecting and cleaning the cartilage graft, applying a pretreatment solution to the cartilage graft, removing cellular debris using an extracting solution to produce a devitalized cartilage graft, recellularizing the devitalized cartilage graft, implanting the cartilage graft into the cartilage defect with or without an insertion device, and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue. The devitalized cartilage graft is optionally stored between the removing cellular debris and the recellularizing steps.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a process for implanting a cartilage graft into a cartilage defect and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue by creating a first bore down to the bone portion of the cartilage defect, creating a second shaped bore that is concentric to and on top of the first bore to match the shape and size of the cartilage graft, treating the first bore and the second shaped bore at the defect site with a bonding agent, treating the circumferential area of the cartilage graft with a bonding agent, inserting the cartilage graft into the defect site and wherein the superficial surface of the cartilage graft is at the same height as the surrounding cartilage surface. The first and second bonding agents may be activated by applying a stimulation agent to induce sealing, integration, and restoration of the hydrodynamic environments of the recipient tissue.

Abstract: The invention is further directed to producing a cleaned, disinfected, and devitalized cartilage graft by optionally cleaning and disinfecting the cartilage graft; treating the cartilage graft in a pretreatment solution; treating the cartilage graft in an extracting solution; washing the extracted cartilage graft with a rinsing solution; and subsequently soaking the devitalized cartilage graft in a storage solution. The devitalized cartilage graft is essentially free from metabolically viable and/or reproductively viable cells and the rinsing solution is hypotonic solution or isotonic solution. The present invention is further directed to a cleaned, disinfected, and devitalized cartilage graft and a process for cleaning, disinfecting, and devitalizing cartilage grafts.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for the growth of new bone or bone-like tissue under in vitro cell culture conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of growing new bone, bone-like tissue or extracellular matrix under in vitro cell culture conditions. The method utilizes a bioreactor allowing for the flow of nutrient solutions into, through, and out of the bioreactor, wherein ground demineralized bone and bone-forming cells are present in the bioreactor. The resulting bone, bone-like tissue or extracellular matrix produced by the invention are within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the present invention is directed to the bioreactor device used to grow the new bone, bone-like tissue, or extracellular matrix.