[54] PROCESS FOR PREPARING ARTIFICIAL SKIN WITH BIOCOMPATIBLE PERFORATED MEMBRANES
[75] Inventors: Francesco Delia Valle, Padua;
Gabriella Calderini. Carrara San
Giorgio; Alessandro Rastrelli, Padua;
Aurelio Romeo, Rome, all of Italy
[73] Assignee: Fidia S.p.A., Abano Terme, Italy
[21] Appl. No.: 209,626
[22] Filed: Mar. 14,1994
Related U.S. Application Data
[62] Division of Ser. No. 19,818, Jan. 16,1993, Pat. No. 5,326, 356, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 708,717, May 31, 1991, abandoned.
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Jun. 1, 1990 [TT] Italy 20513A90
[51] Int CI.6 A61F 13/00
[52] U.S. CI 424/422; 424/425; 523/113;
623/15
[58] Field of Search 424/448, 449,
424/422. 425; 523/113; 623/15
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
Primary Examiner—D. Gabrielle Phelan
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch,
LLP
[57] ABSTRACT
The invention relates to biocompatible membranes constructed of materials of natural, synthetic or semisynthetic origin, and having a thickness of between 10 and 500 u, characterised by containing an ordered series of holes of a constant size between 10 and 1000 u, separated from each other by a constant distance of between 50 and 1000 u, and obtained by perforation by mechanical, thermal laser or ultraviolet radiation means, they being suitable for use as a support for the in vitro growth of epithelial cells, the invention also relating to the artificial skin obtained thereby and its use in grafts.
