Alternative and Effective Tissue and Tissue Design for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Repair
Dr. Thomas Malinin
Dr. H. Thomas Temple
Mr. Carlos Wu
Problem
The number of ACL reconstructions performed annually is continuing to increase and has already reached a level where tissue banks are having difficulty keeping up with the demand. Viable alternatives to traditional cadaver donor tissue - such as, bone-patellar tendon-bone - are needed.
Solution
A novel device for structuring a readily abundant, less expensive alternative donor tissue type has created for use in ACL reconstruction. The specially shaped donor tissue created with this device has been tested in human patients with remarkable success.
Competitive Advantage
There is a shortage of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) cadaver donor materials. The tissue design of the invention will help to fill that need. In addition, it has equivalent strength and stiffness characteristics of conventional soft tissue donor materials used in ACL repair.
Applications
Repair of damaged ACL's.
Patent Status
United States Provisional Patent Filed January 15, 2010.
