Placental tissue grafts and improved methods of preparing and using the same

Abstract

A method for preparing placenta membrane tissue grafts for medical use, includes obtaining a placenta from a subject, cleaning the placenta, separating the chorion tissue from the amniotic membrane, mounting a selected layer of either the chorion tissue or the amniotic membrane onto a drying fixture, dehydrating the selected layer on the drying fixture, and cutting the selected layer into a plurality of tissue grafts. Preferably, the drying fixture includes grooves or raised edges that define the outer contours of each desired tissue graft, after they are cut, and further includes raised or indented logos that emboss the middle area of the tissue grafts during dehydration and that enables an end user to distinguish the top from the bottom side of the graft. The grafts are comprised of single layers of amnion or chorion, multiple layers of amnion or chorion, or multiple layers of a combination of amnion and chorion.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for preparing a dehydrated tissue graft, comprising the steps:
 a) placing a first chorion tissue layer on a drying fixture;   b) adding at least one additional chorion tissue layer to the first chorion tissue layer;   c) dehydrating the chorions so as to produce a dehydrated tissue graft;   d) placing the dehydrated tissue graft in a package; and   e) sealing the package.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein two or more additional layers of chorion are added during step b). 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first chorion tissue layer and the at least one additional chorion tissue layer are contacted with at least one antibiotic prior to step c). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one antibiotic comprises streptomycin sulfate or gentamicin sulfate. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the package is a pouch. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pouch is an inner pouch; and wherein following step e), the sealed pouch is placed in an outer container, which is subsequently sealed. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the outer container is a pouch.