Physicians at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have developed a Tissue Engineered Vascular Graft (TEVG) by seeding patient cells onto a biodegradable tubular scaffold. The scaffold degrades by hydrolysis, ultimately leaving only the growing vessel in the patients. The Closed Seeding System enables efficient collection and seeding of patient cells onto the TEVG scaffold, which has been further optimized by using patient imaging data and 3D-printing capabilities to create patient-specific vascular grafts for implantation.

This is an improvement on an existing product. This second-generation system possesses all of the advantages of the previous system including improved safety, efficacy and simplicity. In addition, it has the potential for further improved efficacy and better efficiency.

Benefits:

Using current methods, few hospitals can perform implantations of tissue engineered vascular grafts. TEVG preparation requires advanced collection methods for the cells to be seeded onto the scaffold of the TEVG and must be performed in a sterile environment. The Closed Seeding System enables surgeons to collect patient cells and prepare the TEVG in a standard surgical setting, greatly expanding the availability of this surgery.

Further Details/Stage of Development:

The Closed Seeding System has been tested in an animal model of TEVG implantation.

Potential Applications/Markets:

Initial application of the technology would be used to seed a biodegradable tubular scaffold with autologous bone marrow derived mononuclear cells while simultaneously re-transfusing the residual bone marrow cells (primarily red blood cells) back to the patient. This technology could be used in any application where a specific component of a patient’s blood or bone marrow is removed and processed and the residual cells are returned to the donor.

Opportunity/Seeking:

Development Partner

Commercial Partner

Licensing

IP Status:

Patent Pending