Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of preparing a meniscal heterograft for implantation into a human, which comprises a. removing at least a portion of a medial or lateral meniscus from a knee joint of a non-human animal to provide a heterograft; b. washing the heterograft in water and alcohol; c. subjecting the heterograft to at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, immersion in alcohol, ozonation, and freeze/thaw cycling, whereby the heterograft has substantially the same mechanical properties as the meniscus; and d. treating the hetero graft with a glycosidase to remove surface carbohydrate moieties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of preparing a meniscal heterograft for implantation into a human, which comprises a. removing at least a portion of a medial or lateral meniscus from a knee joint of a non-human animal to provide a heterograft; b. washing the heterograft in water and alcohol; c. subjecting the heterograft to at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, immersion in alcohol, ozonation, and freeze/thaw cycling, whereby the heterograft has substantially the same mechanical properties as the meniscus; and d. treating the hetero graft with a glycosidase to remove surface carbohydrate moieties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the heterograft comprises a superior principal surface and an inferior principal surface, the outer portions of said principal surfaces being joined by an outer lateral surface, and the inner portions of said principal surfaces being joined by an inner lateral surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 2, comprising the further step performed prior step c of piercing the heterograft on the outer lateral surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 comprising the further step following step c of treating the heterograft with a second enzyme.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said second enzyme is selected from the group consisting of ficin and trypsin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the further step following step c of treating the heterograft with one or more agents selected from the group consisting of anticalcification agents, antithrombotic agents, antibiotics, and growth factors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the further step following step c of sterilizing the heterograft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said sterilizing step is selected from the group consisting of treatment with glutaraldehyde, treatment with formaldehyde, treatment with ethylene oxide, and treatment with propylene oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the subjecting step comprises subjecting the heterograft to a treatment of freeze/thaw cycling.