Patent ID: 7674408
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: A61F,A61L

Abstract:
1. A process for making biomedical, biocompatible scaffolds suitable for use in the repair and regeneration of tissue, comprising: preparing a homogenous mixture comprising a synthetic, biocompatible polymer, a solvent in which said polymer is soluble, and a non-solvent in which said polymer is not soluble, wherein said solvent and said non-solvent are miscible, and wherein the freezing point of said non-solvent is higher than the freezing point of said solvent, placing said homogenous mixture in a mold or other device suitable for preparing foam scaffolds suitable for use in repair and regeneration of tissue, cooling said homogenous mixture to a first temperature effective to freeze said non-solvent; maintaining said first temperature for a sufficient period of time effective to allow phase separation of said non-solvent from said homogenous mixture and to generate dendritic crystals; cooling said homogenous mixture to a second temperature sufficient to form a solid; and, removing said solvent and said non-solvent from said solid to provide a biocompatible, porous foam scaffold which comprises a network of branched channels.