Tissue scaffolds

Abstract

Tissue scaffolds are described herein. Also described are devices for treating wounds and methods of treating wounds using tissue scaffolds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wound treatment device comprising:
 a reduced pressure source;   a flexible sheet configured to cover a wound site;   a tissue scaffold comprising a porous acellular tissue matrix foam; and   a manifold applied over the tissue scaffold to distribute pressure to the tissue scaffold.   
     
     
         2 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced pressure source includes a pump. 
     
     
         3 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix comprises collagen, elastin, and vascular channels. 
     
     
         4 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix is a dermal acellular tissue matrix. 
     
     
         5 . The wound treatment device of  claim 4 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix is a human dermal acellular tissue matrix. 
     
     
         6 . The wound treatment device of  claim 4 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix is a porcine dermal acellular tissue matrix. 
     
     
         7 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the porosity of the tissue scaffold is from 75% to 90%. 
     
     
         8 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue scaffold has a permeability of at least 1×10 −11  m 2  or greater. 
     
     
         9 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the strut density of the tissue scaffold is from about 0.13 g/cm 3  to about 0.24 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         10 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue scaffold has a water-binding capacity of at least 0.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         11 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet comprises a flexible polymeric material. 
     
     
         12 . The wound treatment device  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive comprising a cement, glue, or resin. 
     
     
         13 . The wound treatment device of  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive comprises a pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The wound treatment device according to  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive can be applied to a surface of the flexible sheet to attach the flexible sheet to skin or other tissue. 
     
     
         15 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the porous acellular tissue matrix foam is produced by:
 adding an acellular tissue matrix to a first aqueous solution;   incubating the first aqueous solution containing the acellular tissue matrix;   removing the incubated acellular tissue matrix from the first aqueous solution;   treating the incubated acellular tissue matrix with a second aqueous solution to form a suspension;   homogenizing the suspension to form a slurry;   cooling the slurry;   casting the slurry in a casting container; and   lyophilizing the slurry.   
     
     
         16 . The wound treatment device of  claim 15 , wherein the homogenizing and cooling are repeated at least three times. 
     
     
         17 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the first aqueous sodium acetate solution has a pH between about 3.4 and 7.0. 
     
     
         18 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid conduit connecting the reduced pressure source to the wound site. 
     
     
         19 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet at least partially seals the wound to allow reduced pressure therapy to be provided at the wound site. 
     
     
         20 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue scaffold facilitates wound closure, healing, tissue regeneration or repair, and prevents or treats infection. 
     
     
         21 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises homogenized acellular tissue matrix particles. 
     
     
         22 . The wound treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises lyophilized acellular tissue matrix 
     
     
         23 . The wound treatment device of  claim 22 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix comprises particulate tissue matrix.