| US 7,547,447 B2 | ||
| Bioartificial lacrimal gland | ||
| Samuel C. Yiu, Marina del Rey, Calif. (US); Austin K. Mircheff, La Crescenta, Calif. (US); Ronald E. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif. (US); Jean Jacob, New Orleans, La. (US); and Mel Trousdale, Pasadena, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, Calif. (US); and The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agriculture and Mechanical College, New Orleans, La. (US) | ||
| Filed on Nov. 15, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/990,359. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0104957 A1, May 18, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61F 2/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 424—423 [424/427; 424/422; 424/93.7; 435/371] | 60 Claims |
| 1. A bioartificial lacrimal gland, comprising at least one unit, said unit comprising
(a) a permeable housing having an interior and an exterior;
(b) an outlet connecting the housing interior to the housing exterior;
(c) a population of lacrimal epithelial cells within the housing interior, wherein said gland is characterized by directional
fluid secretion in which fluid exits from said housing interior to said housing exterior through said outlet; and
(d) a gate joined to said outlet.
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