Patent ID: 6974586

Claim:
A supported lattice for cultivating living cells to form living tissue, said supported lattice comprising: a first support substrate comprising a first elongated tube formed of a plurality of first resilient filamentary members interlaced together, said first resilient filamentary members being interlaced to form a first mesh defined by interstices that are large compared with said living cells such that said cells do not bridge said interstices; a first cell cultivation lattice comprising a plurality of first flexible filamentary members interlaced with one another and said first resilient filamentary members, said first flexible filamentary members being interlaced to form a second mesh defined by interstices smaller than the interstices formed by the first resilient filamentary members and adapted for growing cells in a two-dimensional array across said large interstices of said first support substrate to form a first substantially continuous surface comprising said living tissues; said supported lattice further comprising a second elongated tube positioned coaxially within said first elongated tube, said second elongated tube comprising: a second support substrate comprising a plurality of second resilient filamentary members interlaced together, said second resilient filamentary members being interlaced to form a third mesh defined by interstices that are large compared with said living cells such that said cells do not bridge said interstices; and a second cell cultivation lattice comprising a plurality of second flexible filamentary members interlaced with one another and said second resilient filamentary members, said second flexible filamentary members being interlaced to form a fourth mesh defined by interstices smaller than the interstices formed by the second resilient filamentary members and adapted for growing cells in a two-dimensional array across said large interstices of said second support substrate to form a second substantially continuous surface comprising said living tissue.