US5368051A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of regenerating articular cartilage
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-06-30
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Granted: 1994-11-29
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Expires: 2013-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A process for regenerating articular cartilage in a joint including the steps of exposing the joint having a cartilage defect, debriding the entire cartilage layer to the underlying bone-cartilage interface, to expose a plurality of vascular sinusoids in the sub-chondral layer of bone adjoining the joint surface, restoring the smooth contour and topography of the joint to its natural state, surgically closing the joints, and injecting a single dosage of a mixture of purified growth hormone and buffer solution into the joint so as to initiate the regenerative process, said mixture containing a quantity of purified growth hormone (somatotropin) which has been dissolved in a buffer solution.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan R. Dunn
- 👤 Susan L. Dunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K38/00; A61K38/16; A61K38/17; A61K38/22; A61K38/27; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/1659; A61B17/56; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/30756; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S530/00; Y10S530/827; Y10S530/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage comprising the steps of: a) surgically exposing a joint having a cartilage defect, b) exposing a plurality of vascular units at a sinusoidal layer of bone along the joint surface, c) removing the cartilage layer at the joint so as to restore a smooth contour d) further surgically contouring the joint surface to restore the natural contour of the joint, e) surgically lavaging the joint to remove all cartilage and bone particles and debris, f) surgically closing said joint, g) dissolving a quantity of purified growth hormone in a buffer solution, and h) injecting a single dosage of said growth hormone and said buffer solution into said joint so as to initiate regeneration along the joint surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage comprising the steps of: a) surgically exposing a joint having a cartilage defect, b) exposing a plurality of vascular units at a sinusoidal layer of bone along the joint surface, c) removing the cartilage layer at the joint so as to restore a smooth contour d) further surgically contouring the joint surface to restore the natural contour of the joint, e) surgically lavaging the joint to remove all cartilage and bone particles and debris, f) surgically closing said joint, g) dissolving a quantity of purified growth hormone in a buffer solution, and h) injecting a single dosage of said growth hormone and said buffer solution into said joint so as to initiate regeneration along the joint surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 1 wherein said buffer solution is Hank's Buffer Solution having a range of Ph between 8.0 and 8.3.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 2 wherein said growth hormone is species specific so as to be identical to naturally produced growth hormones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 3 wherein said growth hormone is biologically engineered to assure maximum purity and disease elimination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 4 wherein said joint is lavaged utilizing sterile saline solution having a Ph in the range of 8.0 to 8.3 prior to surgically closing said joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 5 where a range of about 1.0 to 1.5 milligrams of said purified growth hormone is dissolved in 1 milliliter of said buffer solution, the total volume of said dosage being dependent upon the weight of the individual subject being injected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 6 wherein said single dosage is about 0.25 to 0.75 milligrams of purified growth hormone per Kilogram of body weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 7 wherein repeated, periodic injections of said growth hormone and said buffer solution are made to create and maintain the required amounts of the cartilage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 1 wherein said vascular units include single lumen blood vessels to be transformed by said growth hormone into glomerular organelles of multiple curved vessels (Glomeruloids).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 1 wherein said vascular units includes glomerular organelles composed of multiple curved vessels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 10 wherein a lavage with saline during the debridement to prevent cell necrosis which may be caused by friction, heat, or drying of the tissue and cells.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of producing additional articular cartilage surface thickness, improving the quality and quantity of the existing cartilage, and producing additional crystal clear joint fluid in an individual subject, comprising the steps of dissolving a predetermined quantity of purified growth hormone in a buffer solution, and injecting at least one dosage of said growth hormone and said buffer solution intra-articularly into a joint.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of producing additional articular cartilage surface thickness, improving the quality and quantity of the existing cartilage, and producing additional crystal clear joint fluid in an individual subject, comprising the steps of dissolving a predetermined quantity of purified growth hormone in a buffer solution, and injecting at least one dosage of said growth hormone and said buffer solution intra-articularly into a joint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said dissolving step comprises dissolving said purified growth hormone in a buffer solution comprising Hank's Buffer Solution having a range of pH between 8.0 and 8.3.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said dissolving step comprises dissolving a growth hormone that is species specific so as to be identical to naturally produced growth hormone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said dissolving step comprises dissolving a range of about 1.0 to 1.5 milligrams of said purified growth hormone in 1 milliliter of said buffer solution, the total volume of said dosage being dependent upon the weight of the individual subject being injected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said dissolving step comprises dissolving about 0.25 to 0.75 milligrams of said purified growth hormone per kilogram of body weight in 1 milliliter of said buffer solution to form a single dosage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of regenerating articular cartilage as recited in claim 14 wherein said injecting step comprises repeated, periodic injections of said growth hormone and said buffer solution into said joint.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5041138A
Cited
US5206023A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-05-30 | 2006-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |