| abstract |
Disclosed is a prosthetic ligament (10) comprising a plurality of substantially aligned, elongated filaments (12). Each filament (12) is a dry, porous, volume matrix of biocompatible and bioresorbable fibrils, at least some of which are crosslinked. The fibrils are short segments of longer fibers of polymeric connective tissue components, or analogs thereof. Each filament (12) establishes a bioresorbable scaffold adapted for ingrowth of ligament fibroblasts, the scaffold and the ingrown fibroblast supporting natural ligament tensile forces. Also disclosed are methods of fabricating the prosthetic ligament (10), and methods of regenerating ligamentous tissue in vivo. |