Device and Process for Producing Fiber Products and Fiber Products Produced Thereby

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a fiber, preferably bone fiber, having a textured surface, which acts as an effective binding substrate for bone-forming cells and for the induction or promotion of new bone growth by bone-forming cells, which bind to the fiber. Methods of using the bone fibers to induce or promote new bone growth and bone material compositions comprising the bone fibers are also described. The invention further relates to a substrate cutter device and cutter, which are effective in producing substrate fibers, such as bone fibers.

1 . A bone fiber having a textured surface, which acts as an effective binding substrate for bone-forming cells, wherein said binding induces or promotes new bone formation from bone-forming cells bound to said bone fiber. 
     
     
         2 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said bone fiber is demineralized. 
     
     
         3 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said bone fiber is not demineralized. 
     
     
         4 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said bone fiber is made from allogenic or xenogenic bone. 
     
     
         5 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein bone fiber is made from cortical bone. 
     
     
         6 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said bone fiber has an average length of from about 1.0 mm to about 100 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The bone fiber of  claim 6 , wherein said bone fiber has an average length of from about 20 mm to about 30 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said bone fiber has an average width of from about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The bone fiber of  claim 8 , wherein said bone fiber has an average width of from about 1.0 mm to about 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said bone fiber has an average thickness of from about 0.2 mm to about 1.4 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The bone fiber of  claim 10 , wherein said bone fiber has an average thickness is from about 0.4 mm to about 0.8 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said bone fiber is freeze-dried. 
     
     
         13 . A bone material composition comprising a bone fiber of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         14 . A bone material composition comprising a bone fiber and bone-forming cells, wherein said bone fiber has a textured surface which acts as an effective binding substrate for bone-forming cells and wherein said binding induces or promotes new bone formation from bone-forming cells bound to said bone fiber. 
     
     
         15 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein the bone-forming cells are selected from stem cells, connective tissue progenitor cells, fibroblast cells, periosteal cells, chondrocytes, osteocytes, pre-osteoblasts, and osteoblasts. 
     
     
         16 . The bone material composition of  claim 15 , wherein the bone-forming cells are stem cells. 
     
     
         17 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein said bone fiber comprises allogenic or xenogenic bone. 
     
     
         18 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein said composition further comprising cancellous bone. 
     
     
         19 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein said composition further comprises cortical bone. 
     
     
         20 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein said composition further comprises particulate calcium salts selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, and calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         21 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein said composition comprises both demineralized and non-demineralized bone fibers. 
     
     
         22 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein said composition is osteoinductive. 
     
     
         23 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein said composition is freeze-dried. 
     
     
         24 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , further comprises an agent effective to initiate the induction of bone growth. 
     
     
         25 . A method for inducing or promoting bone growth comprising providing a bone fiber having a textured surface effective to efficiently bind bone-forming cells, contacting said bone fiber to bone-forming cells, which adhere to the textured surface of said bone fiber, and allowing the bone-forming cells to adhere to the textured surface of the bone fiber thereby inducing or promoting new bone growth from the adhered bone-forming cells. 
     
     
         26 - 93 . (canceled)