Patent ID: 9314340
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: A61F,A61L

Claim Text:
1. A method for regenerating at least a portion of a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of a subject, the method comprising: implanting a bioscaffold at the TMJ of a mammal, the bioscaffold comprising a biocompatible, biodegradable, elastomeric implant dimensioned to fit within the TMJ and mimic the size and function of a native TMJ meniscus, the implant comprising a top sheet formed from one or more layers of a biocompatible material, a bottom sheet formed from one or more layers of the biocompatible material, and a raised central core encapsulated between the top and bottom sheets, wherein the core consists essentially of acellular and noncrosslinked extracellular matrix, wherein the top sheet and bottom sheet have substantially the same thickness, and further wherein the top and bottom sheets extend radially from the raised central core to form a brim having surgical attachment sites in the brim, wherein the central core has a circular base with a diameter, or an elliptical base with a major diameter and a minor diameter, and a height and composition of the central core that permits the core to deform under stress, and the diameter or the major and minor diameter is sufficient for the core to carry shear forces between the mandible and the skull when the implant is affixed to an articulating surface in the TMJ; and attaching the bioscaffold at a TMJ attachment site in the mammal by securing the surgical attachment sites of the brim to the TMJ attachment site in the mammal.