Nonwoven tissue scaffold

Abstract

A biocompatible meniscal repair device is disclosed. The tissue repair device includes a scaffold adapted to be placed in contact with a defect in a meniscus, the scaffold comprising a high-density, dry laid nonwoven polymeric material and a biocompatible foam. The scaffold provides increased suture pull-out strength.

1 . A biocompatible meniscal repair device, comprising;
 a biocompatible tissue repair scaffold adapted to be placed in contact with a defect in a meniscus, wherein the scaffold comprises a nonwoven polymeric material, and wherein the scaffold has a modulus of elasticity greater than about 1.5 MPa and a suture pull-out strength greater than about 6 N.   
     
     
         2 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold has a peak stress greater than about 2 MPa. 
     
     
         3 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold has a suture pull-out strength less than about 45 N. 
     
     
         4 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold has a modulus of elasticity less than about 40 MPa. 
     
     
         5 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold further comprises a biocompatible foam material joined to the nonwoven polymeric material. 
     
     
         7 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven polymeric material comprises a synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         9 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven polymeric material comprises a material formed by a dry lay process. 
     
     
         10 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven polymeric material is formed from at least one polymer derived from monomers selected from the group consisting of glycolide, lactide, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, and dioxanone. 
     
     
         11 . The repair device of  claim 10 , wherein the nonwoven polymeric material comprises polydioxanone. 
     
     
         12 . The repair device of  claim 10 , wherein the nonwoven polymeric material comprises a copolymer of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid. 
     
     
         13 . The repair device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bioactive substance effective to stimulate cell growth, wherein the bioactive substance is selected from the group consisting of a platelet rich plasma, cartilage-derived morphogenic proteins, recombinant human growth factors, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The repair device of  claim 13 , wherein the bioactive substance is rhGDF. 
     
     
         16 . The repair device of  claim 15 , wherein the bioactive substance is rhGDF-5. 
     
     
         17 . The repair device of  claim 1 , further comprising a viable tissue sample disposed on the tissue repair scaffold and effective to integrate with native tissue adjacent to the tissue repair scaffold. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A biocompatible meniscal repair device, comprising;
 a biocompatible tissue repair scaffold adapted to be placed in contact with a defect in a meniscus, the scaffold including,   (a) a high-density, dry laid nonwoven polymeric material; and   (b) a biocompatible foam,   wherein, the scaffold provides increased suture pull-out strength.   
     
     
         22 . The repair device of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold has a peak stress in the range of about 2 MPa to 14 MPa. 
     
     
         23 . The repair device of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold has a suture pull-out strength in the range of about 6 N to 45 N. 
     
     
         24 . The repair device of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold has a modulus of elasticity in the range of about 1.5 MPa to 40 MPa. 
     
     
         25 . The repair device of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         26 . The repair device of  claim 21 , the nonwoven polymeric material comprises a synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         27 . The repair device of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue repair scaffold is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         28 . The repair device of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one bioactive substance effective to stimulate cell growth, wherein the bioactive substance is selected from the group consisting of a platelet rich plasma, cartilage-derived morphogenic proteins, recombinant human growth factors, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The repair device of  claim 28 , wherein the bioactive substance is rhGDF. 
     
     
         31 . The repair device of  claim 30 , wherein the bioactive substance is rhGDF-5. 
     
     
         32 . The repair device of  claim 21 , further comprising a viable tissue sample disposed on the tissue repair scaffold and effective to integrate with native tissue adjacent to the tissue repair scaffold. 
     
     
         33 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven polymeric material has a density in the range of about 120 mg/cc to about 360 mg/cc. 
     
     
         39 . The repair device of  claim 21 , wherein the scaffold has a modulus of elasticity greater than about 1.5 MPa. 
     
     
         40 . The repair device of  claim 21 , wherein the scaffold has a suture pull-out strength greater than about 6N. 
     
     
         41 . The repair device of  claim 21 , wherein the nonwoven polymeric material has a density in the range of about 120 mg/cc to about 360 mg/cc.