Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
39 words
A method for treating full-thickness defects in cartilage in animals which comprises: filling the cartilage portion of the defect with a matrix containing an effective amount of an anti-angiogenic agent to prevent ingrowth of blood vessels into the cartilage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
39 words
A method for treating full-thickness defects in cartilage in animals which comprises: filling the cartilage portion of the defect with a matrix containing an effective amount of an anti-angiogenic agent to prevent ingrowth of blood vessels into the cartilage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the matrix further contains an effective amount of a transforming factor to transform repair cells into chondrocytes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the matrix further contains an effective amount of a proliferation agent to stimulate proliferation of repair cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the matrix further contains an effective amount of a chemotactic agent to attract repair cells.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
32 words
The method of claims 2 or 3 wherein the transforming factor is associated with a delivery system that releases the transforming factor at a concentration sufficient to transform repair cells into chondrocytes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the anti-angiogenic agent is contained in the matrix both in free form and associated with a delivery system to provide sustained release.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering an effective amount of a transforming factor to the matrix-filled defect at a time when repair cells have populated the matrix to transform the repair cells into chondrocytes.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for treating full-thickness defects in cartilage in animals which comprises: heat treating locations of bleeding to create a transient biological membrane; and filling the cartilage portion of the full-thickness defect with a matrix containing an effective amount of a proliferation agent to stimulate proliferation of repair cells and an effective amount of a transforming factor associated with a delivery system that releases the transforming factor at a concentration sufficient to transform repair cells into chondrocytes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for treating full-thickness defects in cartilage in animals which comprises: heat treating locations of bleeding to create a transient biological membrane; and filling the cartilage portion of the full-thickness defect with a matrix containing an effective amount of a proliferation agent to stimulate proliferation of repair cells and an effective amount of a transforming factor associated with a delivery system that releases the transforming factor at a concentration sufficient to transform repair cells into chondrocytes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the matrix further contains an effective amount of an anti-angiogenic agent to prevent ingrowth of blood vessels into the cartilage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the matrix further contains an effective amount of a chemotactic agent to attract repair cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising filling the bone portion of the defect with a second matrix.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the second matrix contains an effective amount of an angiogenic factor to stimulate formation and ingrowth of blood vessels with associated cells and containing an osteogenic factor associated with a delivery system that releases the osteogenic factor at a concentration sufficient to induce differentiation of bone repair cells into bone cells which form bone.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of treating defects in cartilage in animals which comprises: filling the defect with a matrix containing an effective amount of anti-angiogenic agent to prevent ingrowth of blood vessels into the cartilage, an effective amount of a chemotactic agent to attract repair cells, an effective amount of a proliferation agent to stimulate proliferation of repair cells, and an effective amount of a transforming factor associated with a delivery system that releases the transforming factor at a concentration sufficient to transform repair cells into chondrocytes.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of treating defects in cartilage in animals which comprises: filling the defect with a matrix containing an effective amount of anti-angiogenic agent to prevent ingrowth of blood vessels into the cartilage, an effective amount of a chemotactic agent to attract repair cells, an effective amount of a proliferation agent to stimulate proliferation of repair cells, and an effective amount of a transforming factor associated with a delivery system that releases the transforming factor at a concentration sufficient to transform repair cells into chondrocytes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the anti-angiogenic agent is contained in the matrix both in free form and associated with a delivery system to provide sustained release.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
42 words
The method of claims 1, 8 or 11 further comprising treating the defect site with a sterile solution of an agent to degrade proteogylcans from the surface of the defect and removing the agent prior to filling the defect with the matrix.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the agent to degrade proteoglycans is chondroitinase AC.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the delivery system is selected from the group consisting of liposomes, bioerodible polymers, collagen fibers, carbohydrate-based corpuscles, and water-oil emulsions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the matrix is selected from the group consisting of fibrin, collagen, gelatin, agarose, and combinations thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the matrix used to fill the cartilage portion of the defect is selected from the group consisting of fibrin, collagen, gelatin, agarose, and combinations thereof, and the second matrix used to fill the bone portion of the defect is selected from the group consisting of matrices containing calcium salts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the anti-angiogenic agent is suramin.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the transforming factor is selected from the group consisting of TGF-β and BMP.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the transforming factor is selected from the group consisting of TGF-β and BMP, and the osteogenic factor is selected from the group consisting of TGF-β, BMP and FGF.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
86 words
A composition for the treatment of defects in cartilage comprising: a biodegradable matrix or matrix-forming material used to dress the area of the defect or lesion in the cartilage; an effective amount of an anti-angiogenic agent to prevent ingrowth of blood vessels into the cartilage; and an effective amount of one or more agents selected from the group consisting of a transforming factor to transform repair cells into chondrocytes, a proliferation agent to stimulate proliferation of repair cells, and a chemotactic agent to attract repair cells.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
86 words
A composition for the treatment of defects in cartilage comprising: a biodegradable matrix or matrix-forming material used to dress the area of the defect or lesion in the cartilage; an effective amount of an anti-angiogenic agent to prevent ingrowth of blood vessels into the cartilage; and an effective amount of one or more agents selected from the group consisting of a transforming factor to transform repair cells into chondrocytes, a proliferation agent to stimulate proliferation of repair cells, and a chemotactic agent to attract repair cells.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composition of claim 23 wherein the transforming factor is associated with a delivery system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composition of claim 24 wherein the anti-angiogenic agent is in free form and is also associated with-a delivery system.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composition of claim 25 wherein the transforming factor and the anti-angiogenic agent are associated with the same delivery system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The composition of claim 26 in which the delivery system for the delivery of the transforming factor and the anti-angiogenic agent is selected from the group consisting of liposomes, bioerodible polymers, collagen fibers, carbohydrate-based corpuscles, and water-oil emulsions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composition of claim 23 wherein the matrix is selected from the group consisting of fibrin, collagen, gelatin, agarose, and combinations thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The composition of claim 25 wherein the anti-angiogenic agent is suramin.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composition of claim 24 wherein the transforming factor is selected from the group consisting of TGF-β and BMP.