a detailed description of the delivery systems , compositions and methods of the invention will now be provided with specific reference to figures illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention . it will be appreciated that like structures will be provided with like reference designations . the delivery system for promoting bone growth according to one embodiment includes a covering formed of a water - absorbing gelatinizable material and a bone growth promoting and supporting material contained inside , or at least partially surrounding , the covering . fig1 a is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a delivery system for promoting bone growth having a covering around at least a portion of a bone growth promoting material . delivery system 100 includes a covering 102 that encapsulates a bone growth promoting material . in one embodiment , the covering 102 is formed of a water absorbing gelatinizable material , for example , gelatinizable gauze , oxidized cellulose , oxidized regenerated cellulose , cat gut , or any other hydrophilic absorbable polymer which may be woven , knitted , braided , or otherwise formed into a sheet , pouch , tube or other covering . the material of the covering may be resorbable or non - resorbable by the body , as desired . in one embodiment , it advantageously becomes sticky and adhesive toward bone or other tissue where the delivery system 100 is placed . the bone growth promoting material may be any material that can be used to promote and / or support the growth of bone tissue . suitable materials may include at least one of calcium hydroxyapatite , beta - tricalcium phosphate , purified coral shell , freeze dried natural bone powder , freeze dried natural bone particles , demineralized natural bone powder , and demineralized natural bone particles , shards or fragments . the covering 102 of the delivery system 100 may be woven , knitted or braided to be of any desired shape , size , length , or diameter . methods of manufacturing the delivery system 100 will be explained in further detail below . according to the embodiment illustrated in fig1 a , the delivery system 100 may have an elongated sausage like configuration . fig1 b illustrates an alternative embodiment of a delivery system 100 ′ having a pillow like configuration . according to one embodiment , the delivery system 100 or 100 ′ may also include an adhesive , for example , fibrin powder or chopped adhesive gauze , dispersed within the bone growth promoting material inside covering 102 . including an adhesive may be desirable when the delivery system 100 or 100 ′ is used to promote and support bone growth along a ridge ( e . g ., an alveolar ridge ). the adhesive helps to hold the material together so that the material is not easily displaced from the bone defect into unintended locations once the covering 102 has sufficiently weakened . the covering 102 as illustrated in fig1 a - 1b is formed of a water absorbing gelatinizable material . suitable materials include gelatinizable thread , oxidized cellulose thread , and oxidized regenerated cellulose thread . these thread materials can be woven , knitted or braided into gauze , which can be used to form a covering 102 having a desired configuration . when the covering 102 is formed of oxidized cellulose thread or oxidized regenerated cellulose thread , the oxidation or oxidation / regeneration necessary to treat the cellulose thread may occur prior to or subsequent to weaving , knitting or braiding . in other words , the covering 102 may be woven , knitted or braided from cellulose thread when initially stronger , and then later chemically treated as desired . for example , the covering 102 of the delivery system 100 of fig1 a or delivery system 100 ′ of fig1 b may be manufactured by forming a hollow tube 200 , as illustrated in fig2 . the hollow tube 200 may be long enough to form a plurality of delivery systems 100 or 100 ′. hollow tube 200 may be cut into several portions 200 a , each portion to be made into a delivery system 100 or . the hollow tube portions 200 a may then each be filled with bone growth promoting material , and the ends 202 of each tube portion 200 a may then be sealed . the ends 202 may be sealed by tying with a thread , or the ends may be wet sealed . to wet seal the ends 202 , each end 202 is closed , wetted with water , and then dried . the water is absorbed by the ends 202 of the covering , which gelatinizes and seals the end 202 . once dried , the result is a delivery system 100 as illustrated in fig1 a or delivery system 100 ′ as illustrated in fig1 b . the delivery system 100 or 100 ′ is preferably stored within a moisture resistant package . examples of such packaging include a foil pouch , a glass or plastic vial , a plastic container , or any other container formed of water resistant material . the delivery system may be used to promote bone growth in a variety of circumstances . one preferred use is to preserve the alveolar portion of the jaw bone which supports the teeth . when a tooth is removed , the underlying portion of the jaw bone will contain a defect that can greatly weaken the bone . in addition , the bone may atrophy and weaken as a result of non - use and removal of the tooth . implanting a delivery system containing a bone growth promoting material displaces soft tissue growth in favor of bone growth so as to strengthen the area of the jaw bone into which it is implanted . fig3 is a perspective view of a portion of a patient &# 39 ; s mouth where the third molar has just been removed . a delivery system 100 is shown being placed into the void or defect left as a result of removal of the tooth from the jaw bone . the delivery system 100 is placed adjacent to the jaw bone tissue so as to selectively promote growth of the bone tissue and prevent the incursion of faster - growing soft tissue . as mentioned above , the covering 102 of the delivery system 100 may be resorbable or non - resorbable , as desired . it may also be adhesive in order to help maintain the delivery system 100 in place . either delivery system 100 or 100 ′ can be used to promote bone growth along a ridge ( e . g ., alveolar ridge ) or any other place where a bone defect or weakened bone exists . other delivery systems of alternative shape and design could also be used as desired . when placed along a ridge , it may be desirable to include an adhesive dispersed within the material . the adhesive helps to hold and maintain the bone growth promoting material together so that it does not slide down the side of the ridge as the covering 102 weakens over time . according to another embodiment within the scope of the invention , a syringe delivered bone growth promoting composition 404 may be dispensed from a syringe 406 , as illustrated in fig4 a and 4b . the composition 404 may comprise a bone growth promoting material in granule or powder form , and a thickener dispersed among the bone growth promoting material . the thickener may also be adhesive to tissue and may comprise any of gelatinizable gauze , oxidized cellulose , oxidized regenerated cellulose , or cat gut either ground up or in powder form . the thickener may alternatively comprise any proteinous material , for example , a biocompatible gelatinous collagen . the thickener is advantageously dispersed among the bone growth promoting material . upon the addition of water or other solvent or vehicle , the composition 404 is capable of forming a viscous gel or firm putty ( depending on the amount of water added ) that may be dispensed from the syringe 406 . the composition 404 may initially be provided in either a dry or wet form . in other words , water may be added at the time of manufacture or later , by the dental practitioner . if provided in a wet form , a preservative ( e . g ., benzalkonium chloride , methylparaben , ethylparaben , and the like ) capable of preventing growth of bacteria or other microorganisms is preferably included . the viscous gel or firm putty may be dispensed in the location desired , as illustrated in fig4 b , and in the case of a firm putty , may be formed as desired by the dental practitioner . fig5 illustrates a further alternative embodiment . in this embodiment , a polymerizable resin 505 is delivered by a syringe 506 over bone growth promoting material 504 that has been packed adjacent to bone tissue to be augmented . the polymerizable resin preferably is a resorbable , biocompatible material that may be light or chemically cured . it acts as a barrier layer to prevent saliva or other fluids from carrying away the packed bone growth promoting material . it also reduces migration of fast - growing epithelial tissue down into the implanted material , thus facilitating bone growth in from the side . the bone is thereby allowed to grow into the packed bone growth promoting material free of completion from epithelial tissue . the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics . the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive . the scope of the invention is , therefore , indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description . all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope .
a method for manufacturing a delivery system that includes a bone growth promoting material encapsulated within a water - absorbing , water - gelatinizable covering used to promote bone growth in order to repair a bone defect and / or strengthen a weakened bone region . the delivery system may be shaped and sized in order to fit within a bleeding wound . the covering may be formed of a gelatinizable - gauze that forms a gel - like material when moistened with water . the delivery system may be stored in a moisture resistant package prior to use .