Reinforced biologic material

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an implantable medical device comprising a composite graft material including a first biologic component, such as an acellular tissue matrix, and a second non-biologic component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable medical device, comprising:
 a group of first elongate non-biologic elements;   a sheath wrapped around and surrounding at least a portion of the group of first elongate non-biologic elements; and   at least one second elongate non-biologic element, wherein the at least one second element secures at least one end portion of the group of first elongate non-biologic elements.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the group of first elongate non-biologic elements are under a tensile or compressive stress prior to implantation. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable medical device of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the group of first elongate non-biologic elements are loaded with the tensile or compressive stress independently of the sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the group of first elongate non-biologic elements and the sheath are loaded together with a tensile or compressive stress. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the group of first elongate non-biologic elements have a higher load capacity than the sheath at the time of implantation. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable medical device of  claim 5 , wherein the sheath has a higher load capacity than the group of first elongate non-biologic elements after implantation and following growth of native cells within the sheath. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath comprises a non-biologic material. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath comprises a biologic component including a biomatrix. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the biomatrix comprises an acellular tissue matrix or a particulate acellular tissue matrix. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second elongated non-biologic element is wrapped around and over the sheath to secure at least one end portion of the group of first elongate non-biologic elements. 
     
     
         11 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath forms a single layer over the group of first elongate non-biologic elements. 
     
     
         12 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is wrapped in a jellyroll fashion with multiple layers over the group of first elongate non-biologic elements. 
     
     
         13 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is wrapped in a non-uniform jellyroll fashion with multiple non-concentric layers over the group of first elongate non-biologic elements. 
     
     
         14 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , comprising an outer sheath wrapped around and surrounding at least a portion of the sheath. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the group of first elongate non-biologic elements comprise at least one material chosen from bioabsorbable polymer, bioabsorbable metal, or a combination of bioabsorbable polymer and bioabsorbable metal. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the group of first elongate non-biologic elements comprise at least one material chosen from polyhydroxyalkanoate, poly-hydroxybutyrate, polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactideglycolide acid (PLGA), polydioxanone (PDO), polycaprolactone (PCL), a polyanhydride, a polyorthoester, a poly(amino acid), a polypeptide, a polydepsipeptide, a nylon-2/nylon-6 copolyamide, a poly(alkylene succinate), poly(hydroxyl butyrate) (PHB), poly(butylene diglocolate), poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone), a polydihydropyran, a polyphosphazene, a poly(cyano acrylates), modified polysaccharides, cellulose, starch, chitin, modified proteins, collagen, fibrin, and combinations and copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the group of first elongate non-biologic elements comprise a bioabsorbable polymer, a bioabsorbable metal or a combination of a bioabsorbable polymer and bioabsorbable metal. 
     
     
         18 . The implantable medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the group of first elongate non-biologic elements are under a tensile stress ranging from greater than 0 N to about 1800 N. 
     
     
         19 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the group of first elongate non-biologic elements comprise a plurality of threads, cords, cables, ribbons, or braids. 
     
     
         20 . An implantable medical device, comprising:
 a group of first elongate non-biologic elements, at least a portion of which are under a tensile or compressive stress prior to implantation;   a sheath wrapped around and surrounding at least a portion of the group of first elongate non-biologic elements; and   at least one second elongate non-biologic element, wherein the at least one second element secures at least one end portion of the group of first elongate non-biologic elements;   wherein the group of first elongate non-biologic elements have a higher load capacity than the sheath at the time of implantation; and   wherein the sheath has a higher load capacity than the group of first elongate non-biologic elements after implantation and following growth of native cells within the sheath.