US5562946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for spinning and processing collagen fiber
Assignee: Medtronic International Ltd Hong Kong
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Filing: 1994-11-02
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Granted: 1996-10-08
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Expires: 2014-11-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for forming a collagen fiber having microparticulates coated on the fiber surface includes a device for forming a continuous stream of liquid collagen, a coagulation bath wherein the continuous liquid collagen stream can be formed into a continuous collagen gel fiber, a dehydrating bath, wherein the continuous collagen gel fiber can be partially dehydrated and further polymerized, and a device for coating particulates on the surface of the fiber. The method includes directing a liquid collagen solution into a coagulating bath to form a continuous collagen gel fiber, transferring the fiber to a dehydrating bath so that the fiber is partially dehydrated and further polymerized, removing the dehydrated fiber from the dehydrating bath, coating the surface of the fiber with microparticulates, and stretching and drying the coated fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy W. Fofonoff
- 👤 Eugene Bell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:17
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C67/00; B29C67/02; B29C67/06; D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/06; D01F; D01F4/00; B29K; B29K2089/00; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/731
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for forming a collagen fiber having a microparticulate-coated surface, comprising the steps of: a) forming a continuous collagen gel fiber from a liquid collagen solution in a coagulating bath; b) removing said continuous collagen gel fiber from said coagulating bath; c) directing said continuous collagen gel fiber into a dehydrating bath to at least partially dehydrate said collagen fiber; d) removing said at least partially dehydrated collagen fiber from the dehydrating bath; and e) applying microparticulates to the surface of the at least partially dehydrated fiber, thereby forming the collagen fiber having the microparticulate-coated surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for forming a collagen fiber having a microparticulate-coated surface, comprising the steps of: a) forming a continuous collagen gel fiber from a liquid collagen solution in a coagulating bath; b) removing said continuous collagen gel fiber from said coagulating bath; c) directing said continuous collagen gel fiber into a dehydrating bath to at least partially dehydrate said collagen fiber; d) removing said at least partially dehydrated collagen fiber from the dehydrating bath; and e) applying microparticulates to the surface of the at least partially dehydrated fiber, thereby forming the collagen fiber having the microparticulate-coated surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said microparticulate-coated fiber is stretched.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said microparticulate-coated fiber is dried.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the collagen is extracted from tissue from fetal, young or adult pigs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the coagulation bath includes a solution of about 0.75% by weight alkaline alginic acid in a boric acid buffer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the dehydrating bath includes a solution of ninety percent, by weight, ethanol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the microparticulates are suspended in the air in a cloud by the input of vibrational energy and deposited from the resulting cloud onto the fiber surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said microparticulates are formed from animal tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said microparticulate-coated fiber is dried by dry nitrogen gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the microparticulates have a diameter in the range of between about 10 and 500 micrometers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said animal tissue is derived from a porcine animal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said animal tissue is derived from a bovine animal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said animal tissue is derived from an ovine animal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said animal tissue is derived from a marine animal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for forming a collagen fiber having an extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated surface, comprising the steps of: a) forming a continuous collagen gel fiber from a liquid collagen solution in a coagulating bath; b) removing said continuous collagen gel fiber from said coagulation bath; c) directing said continuous collagen gel fiber into a dehydrating bath to at least partially dehydrate said collagen gel fiber; d) removing said at least partially dehydrated collagen fiber from the dehydrating bath; e) applying extracellular matrix microparticulates to the surface of the at least partially dehydrated fiber; f) stretching said extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated fiber; and g) drying said extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated fiber, thereby forming the colladen fiber having an extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for forming a collagen fiber having an extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated surface, comprising the steps of: a) forming a continuous collagen gel fiber from a liquid collagen solution in a coagulating bath; b) removing said continuous collagen gel fiber from said coagulation bath; c) directing said continuous collagen gel fiber into a dehydrating bath to at least partially dehydrate said collagen gel fiber; d) removing said at least partially dehydrated collagen fiber from the dehydrating bath; e) applying extracellular matrix microparticulates to the surface of the at least partially dehydrated fiber; f) stretching said extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated fiber; and g) drying said extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated fiber, thereby forming the colladen fiber having an extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for forming a collagen fiber having an extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated surface, comprising the steps of: a) forming an at least partially dehydrated collagen fiber; and b) applying extracellular matrix microparticulates to the surface of the dehydrated fiber, thereby forming the collagen fiber having the extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated surface.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for forming a collagen fiber having an extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated surface, comprising the steps of: a) forming an at least partially dehydrated collagen fiber; and b) applying extracellular matrix microparticulates to the surface of the dehydrated fiber, thereby forming the collagen fiber having the extracellular matrix microparticulate-coated surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the extracellular matrix microparticulates are suspended in air in a cloud by the input of vibrational energy and deposited from the resulting cloud onto the fiber surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the extracellular matrix microparticulates are applied in a horizontal tube that is an inverted arch, wherein the lower portion of the tube forms a microparticulate reservoir.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the vibrational energy is provided by a vibrational generator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the vibrational energy is provided at a frequency of between about 1,000 and 3,000 cycles per minute and an amplitude of about one millimeter or less.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the vibrational energy is provided at a frequency of between about 1,000 and 3,000 cycles per minute and an amplitude of about 1 millimeter or less.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for coating the surface of a collagen fiber with microparticulates, comprising the steps of: a) suspending the microparticulates in the air to form a microparticulate cloud; and b) passing the collagen fiber through the microparticulate cloud and allowing the microparticulates to deposit onto the collagen fiber surface, thereby coating the surface of the collagen fiber with microparticulates.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for coating the surface of a collagen fiber with microparticulates, comprising the steps of: a) suspending the microparticulates in the air to form a microparticulate cloud; and b) passing the collagen fiber through the microparticulate cloud and allowing the microparticulates to deposit onto the collagen fiber surface, thereby coating the surface of the collagen fiber with microparticulates.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the microparticulates are suspended in the air in a cloud by the input of vibrational energy.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the vibrational energy is provided by a vibrational generator.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for forming a collagen fiber having a microparticulate-coated surface, comprising the steps of: a) forming a continuous collagen gel fiber from a liquid collagen solution in a coagulating bath, wherein said coagulating bath includes a solution of about 075% by weight, alkaline alginic acid in a boric acid buffer; b) removing said continuous collagen gel fiber from said coagulating bath; c) directing said continuous collagen gel fiber into a dehydrating bath to at least partially dehydrate said collagen fiber; d) removing said at least partially dehydrated collagen fiber from the dehydrating bath; and e) applying microparticulates to the surface of the at least partially dehydrated fiber, thereby forming the collagen fiber having the microparticulate-coated surface.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for forming a collagen fiber having a microparticulate-coated surface, comprising the steps of: a) forming a continuous collagen gel fiber from a liquid collagen solution in a coagulating bath, wherein said coagulating bath includes a solution of about 075% by weight, alkaline alginic acid in a boric acid buffer; b) removing said continuous collagen gel fiber from said coagulating bath; c) directing said continuous collagen gel fiber into a dehydrating bath to at least partially dehydrate said collagen fiber; d) removing said at least partially dehydrated collagen fiber from the dehydrating bath; and e) applying microparticulates to the surface of the at least partially dehydrated fiber, thereby forming the collagen fiber having the microparticulate-coated surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-04-08 | 2000-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-08 | 2004-04-08 | 2004-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-08 | 2008-04-08 | 2008-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |