1. A method for providing structural support to a patient in an area of a non-cartilage structural defect comprising the steps of:
a) providing a polymeric matrix shaped in the form of a desired support member;
b) depositing dissociated cartilage forming cells on and in said matrix to form a matrixcell construct; and
c) implanting said matrixcell construct in said patient at a site of a non-cartilage structural defect in need of structural support, wherein said construct forms a cartilaginous structural member having controlled biomechanical properties providing the required structural support in the area of said non-cartilage structural defect.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) further comprises selecting a polymeric matrix comprising a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of cellulose ether, cellulose, cellulosic ester, fluorinated polyethylene, poly-4-methylpentene, polyacrylonitrile, polyamide, polyarnideimide, polyacrylate, polybenzoxazole, polycarbonate, polycyanoarylether, polyester, polyestercarbonate, polyether, polyetheretherketone, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polyethersulfone, polyethylene, polyfluoroolefin, polyimide, polyolefin, polyoxadiazole, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polysulfide, polysulfone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polythioether, polytriazole, polyurethane, polyvinyl, polyvinylidene fluoride, regenerated cellulose, silicone, urea-formaldehyde, or copolymers or physical blends thereof, that is in the shape of a desired support member.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising selecting a polymeric matrix that comprises a biodegradable material.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising selecting a polymeric matrix that comprises a biodegradable material selected from the group consisting of a polyglycolic acid polymer, a polyglactin polymer, and mixtures and composites thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises depositing chondrocytes on and in said matrix to form a matrixcell construct.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises providing a polymeric matrix in the shape of a support member comprising an elongated cylinder further comprising a means adapted to receive a urethra.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises providing a polymeric matrix in the shape of a support member comprising an elongated cylinder further comprising a longitudinal groove along its length.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises providing a polymeric matrix in the shape of a support member comprising a hollow cylindrical tube with a wall thickness and a bore along its length.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises providing a polymeric matrix in the shape of a support member comprising a hollow cylindrical tube adapted to receive a urethra with a wall thickness and a bore along its length.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises providing a polymeric matrix in the shape of a support member comprising a hollow cylindrical tube adapted to receive a urethra with a wall thickness that is variable and a bore along its length.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises providing a polymeric matrix in the shape of a support member comprising a cylinder that has a variable structure strength along its longitudinally length.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises providing a polymeric matrix in the shape of a support member comprising a cylinder that comprises an anchoring means on one end for the attachment of said implant to the descending pelvis.
13. A method for providing structural support to a patient in an area of a non-cartilage structural defect comprising the steps of:
a) providing a polymeric matrix shaped in the form of a desired support member;
b) depositing dissociated cartilage forming cells on and in said matrix to form a matrixcell construct; and
c) implanting said matrixcell construct in said patient at a site of a non-cartilage structural defect in need of structural support, wherein said construct forms a cartilaginous structural member having a tensile strength of at least about 2.2 kg providing the required structural support in the area of said non-cartilage structural defect.
14. A method for providing structural support to a patient in an area of a non-cartilage structural defect comprising the steps of:
a) providing a polymeric matrix shaped in the form of a desired support member;
b) depositing dissociated cartilage forming cells on and in said matrix to form a matrixcell construct; and
c) implanting said matrixcell construct in said patient at a site of a non-cartilage structural defect in need of structural support, wherein said construct forms a cartilaginous structural member having a tensile strength of at least about 3.7 kg providing the required structural support in the area of said non-cartilage structural defect.
15. A method for providing structural support to a patient in an area of a non-cartilage structural defect comprising the steps of:
a) providing a polymeric matrix shaped in the form of a desired support member;
b) depositing dissociated cartilage forming cells on and in said matrix to form a matrixcell construct; and
c) implanting said matrixcell construct in said patient at a site of a non-cartilage structural defect in need of structural support, wherein said construct forms a cartilaginous structural member that can withstand cyclic compression performed at rates of from 500 \u03bcm per second to 20,000 \u03bcm per second thereby providing the required structural support in the area of said non-cartilage structural defect.
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 wireline deployed fluid blasting tool comprising:
(a) a segment of production tubing;
(b) a wireline cable;
(c) a tubular mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said mandrel connected to said wireline cable and positioned in said segment of production tubing, said tubular mandrel having a central fluid passage in communication with upper fluid inlet ports and a fluid bypass outlet;
(d) a tubular outer sleeve releasably mounted around said tubular mandrel creating an annular fluid passage, said outer sleeve having a plurality of fluid perforations and a plurality of fluid ejection ports, said fluid perforations and said fluid ejection ports in fluid communication with said annular fluid passage, said releaseably mounted outer sleeve restricting said fluid inlet ports of said tubular mandrel;
(e) a resilient tubular seal fitted around said tubular outer sleeve, said seal sealing the annulus between said tubular outer sleeve and said segment of production tubing;
(f) pressurized fluid within said segment of production tubing above said fluid blasting tool whereby the pressure of said pressurized fluid will engage said seal thereby moving said fluid blasting tool through said production tubing in advance of said wireline cable;
(g) said pressurized fluid flowing through said annular fluid passage and said plurality of fluid ejection ports whereby said pressurize fluid is ejected; and
(h) wherein said releaseably mounted outer sleeve is released in response to fluid pressure whereby said outer is shifted to open said upper fluid inlet ports of said tubular mandrel allowing said pressurized fluid to flow through said central fluid passage of said tubular mandrel to exit said fluid bypass outlet when said fluid blasting tool is pulled from said tubing by said wireline cable.
2. The wireline deployed fluid blasting tool recited in claim 1 wherein said pressurized fluid is heated.
3. The wireline deployed fluid blasting tool recited in claim 1 wherein said pressurized fluid is a paraffin dissolving fluid.
4. The wireline deployed fluid blasting tool recited in claim 1 wherein said tubular outer sleeve is releasably mounted around said tubular mandrel by means of shear screws.
5. The wireline deployed fluid blasting tool recited in claim 4 wherein said resilient tubular seal is tapered at each end.
6. A method for clearing tubing comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a segment of tubing;
(b) providing a wireline cable;
(c) a tubular mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, said tubular mandrel having a central fluid passage in communication with upper fluid inlet ports and a fluid bypass outlet;
(d) providing an outer sleeve having an upper end and a plurality of lower fluid ejection ports;
(e) releasably mounting said tubular outer sleeve around said tubular mandrel thereby creating an annular fluid passage between said tubular mandrel and said tubular outer sleeve in communication with said fluid ejection ports of said mandrel;
(f) providing a resilient tubular seal around said tubular outer sleeve;
(g) attaching said upper end of said tubular mandrel to said wireline cable;
(h) inserting said lower end of said tubular mandrel into said segment of tubing thereby sealing the annulus between said tubular outer sleeve and said segment with said resilient tubular seal;
(i) injecting pressurized fluid within said segment of tubing thereby moving said tubular mandrel and tubular outer sleeve through said tubing in advance of said wireline cable, said pressurized fluid flowing through said annular fluid passage between said tubular mandrel and said tubular outer sleeve; and
(j) ejecting said pressurized fluid from said annular fluid passage through said fluid ejection ports.
7. The method for clearing tubing recited in claim 6 comprising the additional steps of:
(a) increasing the pressure of said pressurized fluid thereby releasing said tubular outer sleeve from said tubular mandrel;
(b) sliding said tubular outer sleeve toward said lower end of said tubular mandrel thereby opening said upper fluid inlet ports of said tubular mandrel; and
(c) pulling said tubular mandrel and said outer sleeve from said tubing by said wireline cable whereby said pressurized fluid flows through said upper fluid inlet ports, said central fluid passage, and said fluid bypass outlet of said tubular mandrel.
8. The method for clearing tubing recited in claim 6 comprising the additional step of heating said pressurized fluid prior to injecting pressurized fluid within said segment of tubing.
9. The method for clearing tubing recited in claim 6 wherein said pressurized fluid includes paraffin dissolving chemicals.
10. The method for clearing tubing recited in claim 7 wherein said pressurized fluid includes paraffin dissolving chemicals.
11. The method for clearing tubing recited in claim 7 comprising the additional step of heating said pressurized fluid prior to injecting pressurized fluid within said segment of tubing.
12. The method for clearing tubing recited claim 7 further comprising the additional steps of:
(a) providing a quantity of shear screws; and
(b) releasably mounting said tubular mandrel with said shear screws.
13. The wireline deployed fluid blasting tool recited in claim 12 wherein said resilient tubular seal is tapered at each end.
14. The method for clearing tubing recited in claim 13 comprising the additional step of injecting heated pressurized fluid within said segment of tubing.
15. A fluid blasting tool comprising:
(a) a tubular mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said tubular mandrel having a threaded connection end, a central fluid passage in communication with at least one upper fluid inlet port and a fluid bypass outlet;
(b) a tubular outer sleeve having at least one lower fluid ejection port;
(c) At least one shear screw releasably attaching said tubular outer sleeve to said tubular mandrel thereby creating an annular fluid passage between said tubular outer sleeve and said tubular mandrel; and
(d) a resilient tubular seal fitted around said tubular outer sleeve.
16. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 15 wherein said threaded connection end of said tubular mandrel is attached to a wireline.
17. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 16 wherein said fluid blasting tool is inserted into well tubing of an oil and gas well.
18. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 17 wherein:
(a) the annulus between said tubular outer sleeve and said tubing is sealed by said seals whereby said fluid blasting tool may be advanced through said production tubing in response to fluid pressure; and
(b) wherein pressurized fluid flows through said annular fluid passage between and outer tubular sleeve and said tubular mandrel and is ejected from said fluid ejection port.
19. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 18 wherein said least one shear screw severs to release and shift said tubular outer sleeve in response to fluid pressure whereby said tubular outer sleeve slides on said tubular mandrel opening said at least one upper fluid inlet port into said central fluid passage.
20. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 19 wherein said resilient tubular seal is an elongated seal having elongated tapered ends.
21. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 19 further comprising radially extending shoulders adjacent said resilient tubular seal.
22. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 19 wherein:
(a) said at least one lower fluid ejection port in said tubular outer sleeve includes a plurality of radially extending fluid ejection ports; and
(b) said at least one upper fluid inlet port in said tubular mandrel includes a plurality of radially extending upper fluid inlet ports.
23. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 22 wherein said fluid pressure is generated by a pressurized fluids selected from the group comprising hot water, hot oil, steam, surfactants, asphaltene solvents, xylene, and diesel fluid.
24. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 23 wherein said tubing of an oil and gas well is production tubing.
25. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 24 wherein said resilient tubular seal is an elongated tubular seal tapered at each end.
26. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 25 wherein said tapered ends of said elongated seal is no more than 30 degrees from the horizontal.
27. The fluid blasting tool recited in claim 26 wherein said elongated seal has a fluid port in fluid communication with an internal fluid chamber whereby fluid may be entered into said chamber.