EXTRALUMINAL REGULATION OF THE GROWTH AND REPAIR OF TUBULAR STRUCTURES iota IN VIVO

摘要

A method of regulating repair in a physiological system following injury to the lumen of a tubular structure in that system, and of testing the effectiveness of regulatory agent, is presented. The method includes administering a modulator of cell or tissue growth to an extraluminal site adjacent the injured tissue in a diffusion controlled-release polymer body which has either a torroidal or disc structure. The polymer body (10) contains a centrally located hole through which suture (12) is threaded. The polymer body (10) has an outer coating (14).