Patent ID: 7025916

Claim:
A method for producing and concentrating strands comprising: (i) extruding a material from an orifice submerged in a flow of coagulation agent that shears off strands of the material and solidifies the material in that form, and (ii) concentrating the strands, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of collagen, hyaluronic acid, mixtures of collagen and hyaluronic acid, poly-glycolic acid, and poly-lactic acid, wherein the coagulation agent comprises a dehydrating agent that is selected from the group consisting of dextran, polyethylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol and acetone, and wherein concentrating the strands comprises forcing a dilute solution of strands back and forth in an alternating matter, through the lumen of a tangential flow filter whereby transluminal effluent passes through the filter resulting in a more concentrated solution of strands.