Methods and collagen products for tissue repair

Abstract

Methods and devices for the repair of articular tissue using collagen material are provided. Compositions of collagen material and related kits are also provided.

1 . A compressible expandable scaffold comprising a collagen sponge in the form of or forming a tube or cylinder which can be inserted into an intra-synovial environment and a means for attachment of the sponge scaffold to bone, graft or ligament to aid in the repair, augmentation or reconstruction of a ligament, tendon, or labrum. 
     
     
         2 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , further comprising a graft material for reconstruction of a ligament. 
     
     
         3 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the means of attachment are one or more sutures, staples and anchors. 
     
     
         4 . The scaffold of  claim 3 , wherein the sutures or anchors are bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         5 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , comprising type I soluble collagen and platelet rich plasma. 
     
     
         6 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , comprising a sheet which is rolled around the repaired, augmented, or reconstructed ligament. 
     
     
         7 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more growth factors, enzyme inhibitors, antibiotics, or extracellular matrix proteins. 
     
     
         8 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional repair material to reinforce the area of the ligament or graft around which the sponge scaffold has been placed. 
     
     
         9 . The scaffold of  claim 1  in a sterile package in a kit further comprising means for obtaining blood or platelet rich plasma. 
     
     
         10 . A method for repairing, replacing, augmenting or reconstructing a ligament, comprising arthroscopically inserting a collagen sponge scaffold in the form of or forming a tube or cylinder, and a means for attachment of the sponge scaffold to bone, graft or ligament, into an intrasynovial environment, and attaching the means for attachment to the bone or ligament, around or in place of a repaired ligament, a reconstructed ligament, or to augment a ligament, tendon, meniscus or labrum. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the means for attachment are one or more sutures, staples and anchors. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  for repair of a ligament comprising re-connecting torn pieces of ligament, then inserting the sponge scaffold into the intrasynovial environment around the torn pieces of ligament, then securing the sponge scaffold to the bone or ligament. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  for reconstructing a ligament comprising removing torn ligament, inserting a ligament graft and securing it to the attachment points of the torn ligament, then inserting the sponge scaffold into the intrasynovial environment around the graft, then securing the sponge scaffold to the bone or ligament. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ligament is selected from the group consisting of anterior cruciate ligament, lateral collateral ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, volar radiocarpal ligament, dorsal radiocarpal ligament, ulnar collateral ligament, and radial collateral ligament. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ligament is torn or ruptured and the sponge scaffold is used to augment the torn or ruptured area. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising removing the torn ligament ends, attaching a graft in place thereof, then placing the sponge scaffold around the graft. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the graft is synthetic. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising reconnecting a torn ligament, then placing the sponge scaffold around the reconnected ligament. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising providing an additional repair material to reinforce the area of the ligament or graft around which the sponge scaffold has been placed.