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 curled bone fiber having serrated edges and grooves. 
     
     
         2 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , comprising demineralized bone. 
     
     
         3 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , comprising non-demineralized bone, 
     
     
         4 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , comprising allogenic or xenogenic bone. 
     
     
         5 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , comprising cortical bone. 
     
     
         6 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , having an average length of from about 1.0 mm to about 100 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The bone fiber of  claim 6 , having an average length of front about 20 mm to about 30 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , having an average width of from about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The bone fiber of  claim 8 , having an average width of from about 1.0 mm to about 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , having an average thickness of from about 0.2 mm to about 1.4 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The bone fiber of  claim 10 , having an average thickness is from about 0.4 mm to about 0.8 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is frozen. 
     
     
         13 . The bone fiber of  claim 1 , having a ribbon-like structure. 
     
     
         14 . A bone material composition, comprising a curled bone fiber having serrated edges and grooves and one or more bone-forming cells. 
     
     
         15 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein the bone-forming cells are selected from the group consisting of 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 the bone fiber comprises allogenic or xenogenic bone. 
     
     
         18 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , further comprising cancellous bone. 
     
     
         19 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , further comprising cortical bone. 
     
     
         20 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , further comprising 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 the bone fiber comprises both demineralized and non-demineralized bone fibers. 
     
     
         22 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein the composition is osteoinductive. 
     
     
         23 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein the composition is frozen. 
     
     
         24 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , further comprising an agent effective to initiate the induction of bone growth. 
     
     
         25 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , having a ribbon-like structure. 
     
     
         26 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein the bone fiber has a grain in the length direction of the fiber. 
     
     
         27 . The bone material composition of  claim 14 , wherein the serrated edges and grooves act as an effective binding substrate for the bone-forming cells.