EP0418035A1 — Living tissue equivalents

Claim 1

Independent Claim 25 words

A tissue equivalent comprising: (a) a hydrated collagen lattice contracted by a contractile agent; and (b) a collagen gel in contact with a permeable member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 25 words

A tissue equivalent comprising: (a) a hydrated collagen lattice contracted by a contractile agent; and (b) a collagen gel in contact with a permeable member.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 56 words

A method of producing a tissue equivalent, the method comprising: (a) forming a mixture comprising collagen and at least one contractile agent; and (b) applying the mixture obtained in step (a) to a collagen gel in contact with a permeable member, and maintaining the mixture and gel under conditions which permit formation of the tissue equivalent.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 56 words

A method of producing a tissue equivalent, the method comprising: (a) forming a mixture comprising collagen and at least one contractile agent; and (b) applying the mixture obtained in step (a) to a collagen gel in contact with a permeable member, and maintaining the mixture and gel under conditions which permit formation of the tissue equivalent.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the contractile agent comprises fibroblast cells.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the mixture of step (a) contains fibroblast cells at a concentration of about 1.25 to 5 x 10⁴ cells/ml and collagen at about 0.5 to 2.0 mg/ml.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 2 wherein the collagen gel is prepared by casting a collagen solution comprising collagen at a concentration of about 0.5 to 2.0 mg/ml.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 5, wherein the mixture of step (a) and the solution of step (b) are used at a ratio of about 3:1 to 1:3, volume:volume.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 20 wherein an absorbent member is disposed adjacent the permeable member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 7, wherein the absorbent member comprises a fibrous pad or a gel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 8, wherein the fibrous pad is cotton.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 2, wherein a gel comprising agarose is disposed adjacent the permeable member.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 63 words

An apparatus for determining the interaction of tissue and at least one agent by use of at least one tissue equivalent, the apparatus comprising a first and a second region defined by a permeable means provided with a collagen gel on which the tissue equivalent is disposed, whereby the tissue equivalent defines the first region and the permeable member defines the second region.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 63 words

An apparatus for determining the interaction of tissue and at least one agent by use of at least one tissue equivalent, the apparatus comprising a first and a second region defined by a permeable means provided with a collagen gel on which the tissue equivalent is disposed, whereby the tissue equivalent defines the first region and the permeable member defines the second region.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 82 words

An apparatus for determining the interaction of tissue and at least one agent by use of at least one tissue equivalent, the apparatus comprising the tissue equivalent and at least one container for the tissue equivalent, the container comprising: (i) an inner well comprising a permeable means provided with a collagen gel on which the tissue equivalent is disposed, whereby the permeable means defines the bottom of the inner well, and (ii) an outer well within which the inner well is disposed.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 82 words

An apparatus for determining the interaction of tissue and at least one agent by use of at least one tissue equivalent, the apparatus comprising the tissue equivalent and at least one container for the tissue equivalent, the container comprising: (i) an inner well comprising a permeable means provided with a collagen gel on which the tissue equivalent is disposed, whereby the permeable means defines the bottom of the inner well, and (ii) an outer well within which the inner well is disposed.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus further comprises a means for closing the container, the means being removably sealable to the container.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the inner well is provided with at least one opening, the opening communicating with the outer well.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 12 words

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the inner well comprises K-resin.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an absorbent member is disposed subjacent the permeable means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the absorbent member comprises a fibrous pad or a gel.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the fibrous pad is cotton.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an agarose gel is disposed in the outer container

Living tissue equivalents

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