Bioabsorbable plug implants and method for bone tissue regeneration

Abstract

A bioabsorbable plug implant, suitable for bone tissue regeneration, comprising a first portion, and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion, the first and second portions formed from expandable material. A method for bone tissue regeneration comprising the steps of: providing a bioabsorbable plug implant, wherein the implant comprises a first portion and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion, the first and second portions formed from expandable material; inserting the second portion into a defect or gap of a bone, the first surface engaging the outside contour of the defect or gap; allowing the plug implant to contact body fluids, thereby expanding the size of the plug implant so that the plug fits into the defect or gap.

1 . A bioabsorbable plug implant, suitable for bone tissue regeneration, comprising a first portion, and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion, the first and second portions formed from expandable material, and wherein the expandable material is a porous material.  
   
   
       2 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the plug implant has a completely interconnected porous architecture.  
   
   
       3 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the plug implant is shaped like at least one of a cone, truncated-cone, a pentahedron, a truncated-pentahedron, and a button mushroom.  
   
   
       4 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a first surface, and the second portion comprises a second surface, opposite to the first, the first surface having an area smaller than the area of the second surface.  
   
   
       5 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surface are plane surfaces.  
   
   
       6 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a thickness X, and the second portion has a thickness Y, the ratio X:Y being from 1:1 to 10:1.  
   
   
       9 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable material comprises bioresorbable polycaprolactone (PLC).  
   
   
       10 . The plug implant according to  claim 9 , wherein the expandable material is prepared by layering PLC filaments layer by layer.  
   
   
       11 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable material comprises bioresorbable tricalcium phosphate-polycaprolactone (TCP-PLC).  
   
   
       14 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bioactive agent.  
   
   
       20 . The plug implant according to  claim 1 , further comprising cells seeded on the bioabsorbable scaffold of the plug implant.  
   
   
       21 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A bioabsorbable plug implant, suitable for bone tissue regeneration, formed from expandable material, wherein the expandable material is prepared by layering polycaprolactone (PLC) filaments layer by layer.  
   
   
       24 . The bioabsorbable plug implant according to  claim 23 , comprising a first portion, and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion, the first and second portions formed from expandable material.  
   
   
       25 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the plug implant is shaped like at least one of a cone, truncated-cone, a pentahedron, a truncated-pentahedron, and a button mushroom.  
   
   
       26 . The plug implant according to  claim 24 , wherein the first portion comprises a first surface, and the second portion comprises a second surface, opposite to the first, the first surface having an area smaller than the area of the second surface.  
   
   
       27 . The plug implant according to  claim 24 , wherein the first and second surface are plane surfaces.  
   
   
       28 . The plug implant according to  claim 24 , wherein the first and the second surfaces have circular, square or rectangular shapes.  
   
   
       29 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the plug implant has a tapered shape.  
   
   
       30 . The plug implant according to  claim 24 , wherein the first portion has a thickness X, and the second portion has a thickness Y, the ratio X:Y being from 1:1 to 10:1.  
   
   
       31 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the expandable material is a porous material.  
   
   
       32 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the plug implant has a completely interconnected porous architecture.  
   
   
       33 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the expandable material is prepared by layering PLC filaments layer by layer by using the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology.  
   
   
       34 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the PLC filament layers have an orientation of at least one of 0 degree, 60 degree and 120 degree.  
   
   
       35 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the expandable material comprises bioresorbable tricalcium phosphate-polycaprolactone (TCP-PLC).  
   
   
       36 . The plug implant according to  claim 35 , wherein the TCP-PLC is TCP-PLC 20:80%.  
   
   
       37 . The plug implant according to  claim 35 , wherein the TCP-PLC has 60-70% of porosity.  
   
   
       38 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the plug implant comprises an opening for placement and removal of a catheter.  
   
   
       39 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the plug implant expands at contact with hydrophilic solution, hydrophilic liquid and/or body fluid.  
   
   
       40 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , wherein the plug implant is suitable to be inserted into a defect of a bone and the plug implant does not require means for fixing the plug to the external surface of the bone.  
   
   
       41 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , further comprising a bioactive agent.  
   
   
       42 . The plug implant according to  claim 23 , further comprising cells seeded on the bioabsorbable scaffold of the plug implant.  
   
   
       43 . The plug implant according to  claim 42 , wherein the cells are stem cells.  
   
   
       44 . The plug implant according to  claim 42 , wherein the cells are mesenchymal stem cells.  
   
   
       45 - 70 . (canceled)  
   
   
       71 . A method for bone tissue regeneration comprising the steps of: 
 providing a bioabsorbable plug implant according to  claim 23;     inserting a first portion of the plug implant into a defect or gap of a bone, a second portion of the plug implant engaging the outside contour of the defect or gap; and    allowing the plug implant to contact body fluids, thereby expanding the size of the plug implant so that the plug fits into the defect or gap.    
   
   
       72 . The method according to  claim 71 , wherein the plug implant is formed from a porous material allowing the bone cells to penetrate into the plug implant and to regenerate the bone tissue.  
   
   
       73 . The method according to  claim 71 , wherein the method is for performing cranioplasty.  
   
   
       74 . The method according to  claim 71 , wherein plug implant and the bone defect or gap have an initial tolerance of less than 1 mm.  
   
   
       75 . The method according to  claim 74 , wherein the initial tolerance is less than 0.5 mm.  
   
   
       76 . The method according to  claim 74 , wherein the initial tolerance is less than 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       77 . The method according to  claim 71 , further comprising placing a catheter into an opening of the plug implant for performing drainage.  
   
   
       78 . The method according to  claim 71 , wherein the insertion of the plug implant into the bone defect does not require means for fixing the plug to the external surface of the bone surrounding the defect.  
   
   
       79 . The method according to  claim 71 , wherein the method is a non-therapeutic method for the cosmetic restoration of undesirable osseous gaps.  
   
   
       80 . The method according to  claim 71 , wherein the plug implant further comprises seeding cells on the bioabsorbable scaffold of the plug implant.  
   
   
       81 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein the cells are stem cells.  
   
   
       82 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein the cells are mesenchymal stem cells.  
   
   
       83 . A kit comprising the plug implant according to  claim 23.