Reverse phase connective tissue repair composition

Abstract

A biocompatible connective tissue repair composition which comprises a therapeutic material and a carrier comprising a means for achieving reverse phase characteristics, and methods for using said composition. The therapeutic material can be demineralized bone powder, and the carrier can be a poloxamer such as poloxamer 407.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A biocompatible connective tissue repair composition comprising: 
 demineralized bone powder, and,    a carrier comprising a liquid poloxamer solution or a solid poloxamer dissolved in a solvent, whereby said carrier achieves reverse phase characteristics when mixed with the demineralized bone powder.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , whereby the carrier causes the composition to be substantially liquid at 0° C., and substantially solid at 35° C.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  which has a first viscosity at 0° C., and a second viscosity at 35° C., wherein the second viscosity is at least twice as great as the first viscosity.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein carrier comprises a solid poloxamer dissolved in a solvent, and the poloxamer is poloxamer 407.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the solvent is sterile water.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein 25 weight percent of the poloxamer 407 is dissolved in 75 weight percent of the sterile water.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein 30 weight percent of the bone powder is dispersed in 70 weight percent of the carrier.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein 50 weight percent of the bone powder is dispersed in 50 weight percent of the carrier.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the-bone powder comprises particles with a median length to a median thickness ratio of about 1.742:1, a mean length of 0.25-1 mm (250-1,000 microns), and a mean thickness of about 0.5 mm (500 microns).  
     
     
         10 . A biocompatible connective tissue repair composition comprising: 
 a therapeutic material, and,    a carrier comprising a means for achieving reverse phase characteristics.    
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the therapeutic material is osteoinductive, osteoconductive, or osteoinductive and osteoconductive.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the therapeutic material is alloplastic, xenogeneic, allogeneic, or autogenic.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10 , whereby the means for achieving reverse phase characteristics causes the composition to be substantially liquid at 0° C., and substantially solid at 35° C.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10  which has a first viscosity at 0° C., and a second viscosity at 35° C., wherein the second viscosity is at least twice as great as the first viscosity.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the means for achieving reverse phase characteristics comprises a poloxamer.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the means for achieving reverse phase characteristics comprises poloxamer 407.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the means for achieving reverse phase characteristics comprises a block copolymer.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the means for achieving reverse phase characteristics comprises a poly(oxyalkylene) block copolymer.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the means for achieving reverse phase characteristics comprises a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene)-poly(oxyethylene) triblock copolymer.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the triblock copolymer comprises a formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the block copolymer is a solid and is dissolved in a biocompatible solvent.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the biocompatible solvent is sterile water.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein 30 weight percent of the therapeutic material is dispersed in 70 weight percent of the carrier.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein 50 weight percent of the therapeutic material is dispersed in 50 weight percent of the carrier.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the therapeutic material comprises bone powder, and the bone powder comprises particles with a median length to a median thickness ratio of about 1.742:1, a mean length of 0.25-1 mm (250-1,000 microns), and a mean thickness of about 0.5 mm (500 microns).  
     
     
         26 . A method to facilitate the development of bone tissue, said method comprising: 
 providing the composition of  claim 10;  and, placing the composition in a bony defect of a mammal.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising a step of placing a prosthetic object in the bony defect.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the composition coats a portion of the prosthetic object, and the step of placing the composition and the step of placing a prosthetic object are contemporaneous.