Ryan A Mercer

US Patent:

6978815, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Dec 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/325444

Inventors:

Maury D. Cosman - Medfield MA, US
Kristen Billiar - Jamaica Plain MA, US
Ryan Mercer - Richmond CA, US
Bruce Miller - North Quincy MA, US

Assignee:

Organogenesis Inc. - Canton MA

International Classification:

B65H081/00

US Classification:

156447, 156446

Abstract:

An apparatus for forming a tube construct from a planar sheet matrix includes a stand supporting two opposing mounts and spanning between the opposing mounts are a mandrel, a porous rod, and a spring-loaded roller held in parallel arrangement; a guide for aligning and engaging the mandrel on the opposing mounts; and a means for imparting a tangential force on the planar sheet matrix to prevent wrinkling. The porous rod has a lumen running its length and has pores that communicate between the lumen of the porous rod through to the surface of the rod for water to uniformly pass through. The spring-loaded roller runs along the length of the porous rod creating a line of contact between the roller and the mandrel. The mandrel is contacted with a planar sheet of matrix and is rotated such that successive portions of the matrix contact the porous rod and become lightly moistened by the water passing through the pores of the porous rod and become wrapped around the mandrel to form a tube construct.