Method for Preparing an Acellular Organic Tissue for Revitalisation and Device for Implementing Said Method

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for preparing an acellular organic tissue for revitalisation by means of the reimplantation of living cells, said method involving the following stages: preparing the acellular tissue on an essentially flat surface, creating a plurality of holes on the surface of the tissue, distributed all over said surface and positioned so that they penetrate at least through a portion of the thickness of said tissue. The holes are suitable for containing the living cells when they are reimplanted. The invention also includes a device for implementing said method, characterized in that it comprises—one or more needles ( 1 ) arranged in a holder ( 20 );—a source of electric power ( 4 ) connected to said one or more needles.

1 ) Method for preparing an acellular organic tissue for revitalisation by means of the reimplantation of living cells, involving the following stages:
 preparing said acellular tissue on an essentially flat surface;   creating a plurality of holes on the surface of said tissue, distributed all over said surface and positioned so that they penetrate at least through a portion of the thickness of said tissue, said holes being suitable for containing said living cells when they are reimplanted;   wherein said plurality of holes is created by means of one or more metal needles connected to an electric power supply that induces, on the tip of each needle, the passage of a current of such intensity and wave form as to provide sufficient energy to break the bonds between the molecules comprising the organic tissue in the vicinity of the tip of said needle, each hole being created by said passage of current and being large enough for the tip of said needle to enter the space created by the opening of said molecular bonds.   
     
     
         2 ) (canceled) 
     
     
         3 ) Method according to  claim 1 ), wherein said one or more metal needles are powered electrically with an alternating current of essentially sine wave type with a frequency of approximately 4 MHz. 
     
     
         4 ) Method according to  claim 3 ), wherein said electric power supply to said one or more needles has harmonics at least up to the third order. 
     
     
         5 ) Method according to  claim 3 ), wherein said electric voltage applied to said one or more needles is in the order of 200-230 Volts. 
     
     
         6 ) Method according to  claim 3 ), wherein the current applied to each needle is in the order of 2-2.5 mA. 
     
     
         7 ) Method according to  claim 1 ), wherein the depth of said holes corresponds to the full thickness of said organic tissue. 
     
     
         8 ) Method according to  claim 1 ), wherein the length of said holes is greater than the thickness of said acellular organic tissue. 
     
     
         9 ) Method according to  claim 1 ), wherein said plurality of holes lie in a direction essentially perpendicular to the surface of said tissue. 
     
     
         10 ) Method according to  claim 8 ), wherein said plurality of holes lie obliquely to the surface of said organic tissue. 
     
     
         11 ) Method according to  claim 1 ) wherein the one or more holes on the surface of the acellular organic tissue suitable for containing cells for revitalising said tissue are produced using a device comprising:
 said one or more metal needles arranged in a holder;   a source of electric power representing said electric power supply and being connected to said one or more needles, suitable for delivering a current to the tip of each needle of such intensity and waveform that it provides an energy sufficient to induce the opening of the bonds between the molecules in the organic tissue coming into contact with the tip of said needle.   
     
     
         12 ) Method according to  claim 11 ), wherein said electric power supply consists of a generator of essentially sine wave voltage at a frequency of approximately 4 MHz. 
     
     
         13 ) (canceled) 
     
     
         14 ) (canceled) 
     
     
         15 ) Method according to  claim 11 ), wherein said device comprises a plurality of needles arranged in a holder suitable for creating an array of rows of needles essentially parallel to one another, said needles being substantially equidistant from one another. 
     
     
         16 ) Method according to  claim 11 ), wherein the gauge of said at least one needle is at least 50-55 p.m. 
     
     
         17 ) Method according to  claim 11 ), wherein the gauge of said at least one needle is greater than the maximum dimension of a revitalising cell. 
     
     
         18 ) Method according to  claim 15 ), wherein said needles are arranged essentially perpendicular with respect to said holder. 
     
     
         19 ) Method according to  claim 15 ), wherein said holder is positioned obliquely to the surface of the organic tissue being perforated. 
     
     
         20 ) Method according to  claim 11 ), wherein said device comprises means for displacing said at least one needle along at least one axis incident on the surface of said tissue and along at least one axis parallel to said surface of said organic tissue. 
     
     
         21 ) Method according to  claim 20 ), wherein said displacement means induce a movement along two Cartesian axes lying essentially parallel to the surface of said organic tissue. 
     
     
         22 ) Acellular organic tissue for revitalisation by means of the reimplantation of living cells obtained by the method according to  claim 1 ).