1. A protection device for a stator of a turbine comprising a series of annular sectors (12) which can be coupled by means of connection means, each sector (12) comprising a first side surface (13) which has at least one cavity (14) equipped with a bottom (15), characterized in that each bottom (15) of said at least one cavity (14) is convex and in that each sector (12) comprises at least one stiffening rib (16) positioned inside said at least one cavity (14) and having a variable section in a longitudinal direction to modulate the rigidity of each sector (12)
2. The protection device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bottom (15) is convex in a circumferential andor axial direction.
3. The protection device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said convex bottom (15) has an apex which in an axial section has an axial curvature radius 70 which, divided by the radius of the rotor, has a value preferably ranging from 0.221 to 0.299.
4. The protection device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that said axial curvature radius (70), divided by the radius of the rotor, has a value equal to 0.260.
5. The protection device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said apex in a radial section has a circumferential curvature radius (60) which, divided by the radius of the rotor, has a value preferably ranging from 0.365 to 0.494.
6. The protection device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said circumferential curvature radius (60), divided by the radius of the rotor, has a value equal to 0.429.
7. The protection device (10) according to any of the claims from 3 to 6, characterized in that said apex in an axial section has a distance (80) from one end of said at least one cavity (14), said distance (80) divided by an axial length of said at least one cavity (14) has a value ranging from 0.142 to 0.192.
8. The protection device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that said distance (80) divided by an axial length of said at least one cavity (14) has a value equal to 0.167.
9. The protection device (10) according to any of the claims from 1 to 8, characterized in that with respect to the axis of the turbine (70), said rib (16) along an axial direction is tilted by an angle (50) which ranges from 3.162\xb0 to 4.278\xb0.
10. The protection device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that said angle (50) is 3.72\xb0.
11. The protection device (10) according to any of the claims from 1 to 10, characterized in that said rib (16) has a maximum axial height (90) which, divided by the axial length of said at least one cavity (14) has a value ranging from 0.133 to 0.180.
12. The protection device (10) according to claim 1l, characterized in that said maximum axial height (90), divided by the axial length of said at least one cavity (14) has a value equal to 0.156.
13. The protection device (10) according to any of the claims from 1 to 12, characterized in that each sector (12) comprises a sheet (20) equipped with a series of pass-through holes (21) which is fixed to said at least one cavity (14).
14. The protection device (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that said sheet (20) is integral with the corresponding sector (12) of said series of sectors (12).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A cellular device comprising:
(a) a collagen matrix having a first side and a second side;
(b) a first cell layer absorbed onto said first side of said collagen matrix; and
(c) a first gelled alginate layer and a second gelled alginate layer; wherein said first gelled alginate layer completely covers said first side of said collagen matrix and said first cell layer; and wherein said second gelled alginate layer completely covers said second side of said collagen matrix.
2. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said cellular device possess an endotoxin level of less than 100 EUg.
3. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said collagen matrix comprises a material derived from fascia lata.
4. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said collagen matrix comprises a material derived from human fascia lata.
5. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said collagen matrix is a material that is chemically treated, wherein the chemical treatment comprises:
immersing said material in a defatting solvent;
contacting said material with a solution of base; and
contacting said material with a solution of salt, oxidizing agent, or mixture thereof.
6. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said collagen matrix is sterilized by gamma radiation and treated by lyophilization.
7. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said first gelled alginate layer and said second gelled alginate layer each independently comprises an alginate.
8. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein the first gelled alginate layer and second gelled alginate layer each independently comprises an alginate with a weight-average molecular weight of about 4 kD to about 300 kD.
9. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein the first gelled alginate layer and second gelled alginate layer each independently comprises an alginate with a weight-average molecular weight of about 150 kD to about 250 kD.
10. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein the first gelled alginate layer and second gelled alginate layer each independently comprises an alginate with a weight-average molecular weight of about 75 kD to about 150 kD.
11. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said first gelled alginate layer and said second gelled alginate layer comprises an alginate derived from macrocystitis purifera.
12. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said first gelled alginate layer and said second gelled alginate layer each independently comprises an RGD peptide coupled alginate.
13. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein the first gelled alginate layer and second gelled alginate layer each independently comprises multivalent cations selected from the group consisting of calcium ions, strontium ions, barium ions, and combination thereof.
14. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein the first gelled alginate layer and second gelled alginate layer each independently comprises calcium ions.
15. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said cellular device is equilibrated in a solution comprising about 1.8 mM calcium ions.
16. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said device is about 1 cm2 to about 4 cm2.
17. A cellular device according to claim 1, further comprising a structural support.
18. A cellular device according to claim 1, further comprising a structural support, wherein said structural support placed onto said second side of said collagen matrix or onto said first cell layer; wherein:
said first gelled alginate layer or said second gelled alginate layer completely covers said structural support;
provided that if said structural support is placed on said first cell layer, said structural support is permeable to nutrients.
19. A cellular device according to claim 18, wherein said structural support comprises a mesh.
20. A cellular device according to claim 19, wherein said structural support comprises polyester.
21. A cellular device according to claim 18, further comprising one or more clips affixing said structural support to said collagen matrix.
22. A cellular device according to claim 1, further comprising a second cell layer absorbed onto said second side of said collagen matrix, wherein said second gelled alginate layer completely covers said second cell layer.
23. A cellular device according to claim 22, further comprising a structural support placed onto said second cell layer, wherein:
said second gelled alginate layer completely covers said structural support; and
said structural support is permeable to nutrients.
24. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said first cell layer comprises cells are selected from the group consisting of pancreatic islet cells, mesenchymal stem cells, parathyroid cells, thyroid cells, hepatic cells, neural cells, vascular endothelial cells, thyroid cells, adrenal cells, thymic cells, or ovarian cells.
25. A cellular device according to claim 1, said first cell layer comprises pancreatic islet cells or parathyroid cells.
26. A cellular device according to claim 1, said first cell layer comprises pancreatic islet cells.
27. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein said first cell layer comprises about 20,000 to about 40,000 pancreatic islet cells per cm2.
28. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein:
said collagen matrix comprises a material derived from human fascia lata; and
said first gelled alginate layer and second gelled alginate layer each independently comprise a RGD coupled alginate and multivalent cations selected from the group consisting of calcium ions, barium ions, strontium ions or combination thereof.
29. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein:
said collagen matrix comprises a material derived from human fascia lata; and
said first gelled alginate layer and second gelled alginate layer each independently comprise a modified alginate and multivalent cations selected from the group consisting of calcium ions, barium ions, strontium ions or combination thereof.
30. A cellular device according to claim 29, wherein said an alginate has a weight-average molecular weight of about 50 kD to about 300 kD.
31. A cellular device according to claim 30, further comprising a structural support placed onto said first cell layer, wherein said structural support is permeable to nutrients.
32. A cellular device according to claim 31, wherein said first cell layer comprises pancreatic islet cells, mesenchymal stem cells, parathyroid cells, thyroid cells, hepatic cells, neural cells, vascular endothelial cells, thyroid cells, adrenal cells, thymic cells, or ovarian cells.
33. A cellular device according claim 31, wherein said first cell layer comprises pancreatic islet cells.
34. A cellular device according to claim 33, further comprising two or more clips affixing said collagen matrix to said structural support.
35. A cellular device according to claim 1, wherein:
said collagen matrix comprises a material derived from human fascia lata;
said first cell layer comprises about 20,000 to about 40,000 pancreatic islet cells;
said first gelled alginate layer and second gelled alginate layer each independently comprises calcium ions and an alginate with a weight-average molecular weight of about 4 kD to about 300 kD;
said cellular device is equilibrated in a solution comprising about 1.8 mM calcium ions;
a structural support placed onto said first cell layer; and
two or more clips affixing said structural support to said collagen matrix;
wherein:
said first gelled alginate layer completely covers said structural support and is permeable to nutrients; and
said structural support comprises a polyester mesh.
36. A kit for implanting one or more devices in a patient in need thereof, comprising one or more cellular devices according to claim 1.