ASTM F2903-11

1.1 This guide is intended as a resource for individuals and organizations involved in the development, production, and delivery of tissue engineered medical products (TEMPs) intended to provide a mechanical (functional) reinforcement of the surgical repair of tendons and ligaments.

1.2 Surgical repair can include procedures that repair tendon to tendon, tendon to bone, tendon to muscle, ligament to ligament, and ligament to bone. In the context of this guide, a tendon is a fibrous cord or band that connects a muscle to a bone or other structure and consists of both dense collagenous fibers and rows of elongated tendon cells. In contrast, a ligament is a band or sheet of fibrous tissue connecting two or more bones, or cartilagenous structures.

1.3 Examples of TEMPs for use in reinforcement of tendon or ligament repairs include extracellular matrices (including allograft tissue, xenograft tissue, and tissue engineered extracellular matrix), polymeric matrices, membranes, or combinations of two or more of these, with or without cells and/or molecular mediators, where the function is to reinforce the surgical repair of tendon to tendon, tendon to bone, tendon to muscle, ligament to ligament, or ligament to bone.

1.4 The products may be rapidly degrading, slowly degrading, or non-degrading.

1.5 The guide is not intended to apply to TEMPs that have a primary function to induce a biological repair through cell or molecular action, although biologic activity may be a feature of the TEMPs. Examples of products or product concepts that are not included are (a) growth factors or cytokines applied to a biologic or synthetic scaffold, and (b) platelet-enriched plasma applied to or within a biologic or polymeric scaffold, where the primary function of the product is biologic.

1.6 The guide is not intended to apply to TEMPs that have a primary function to induce a chemical repair. An example of a product or product concept that would not be included would be a polymeric matrix containing reagents that glue collagenous tissues together.

1.7 The guide is not intended to apply to TEMPs that are designed to be used to achieve primary surgical repair of injured tendons and ligaments.

1.8 The guide is not intended to apply to TEMPs that are designed to replace tendons or ligaments.

1.9 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.