A startup has set out to create a biobank of stem cell-rich tissues collected during surgery with the idea that customers can use their own stored biomaterials for use in future bone graft procedures and stem cell therapies.

Cleveland-based CellBank Technologies is modeling parts of its business on the cord blood bank industry, but instead of blood, it plans to store stem cells and bone-grafting tissues harvested from patients during knee and hip replacement surgeries.

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The problem with harvesting autologous bone graft tissue is that doing so requires a second painful surgery so doctors can obtain the patients own cells. And that additional surgery is just another opportunity for the patient to develop postoperative pain or other complications. Grafting tissue can be taken from several different body parts, including the iliac crest at the hip.

Other options for bone-graft patients include allograft (human tissue harvested from someone besides the patient), synthetic materials and growth factors, which are substances that stimulate cell growth. Controversy has recently engulfed Medtronics bone growth factor Infuse, with allegations of off-label use that contributed to the company paying $85 million to settle a class-action securities fraud lawsuit.

Autograft, which involves harvesting your own bone-grafting tissue, is the gold standard, but its so hard to get, Uram said.

CellBanks plan is to collect bone, marrow and stem cells that would otherwise be discarded during knee and hip surgeries. CellBank customers would then have access to their grafting materials, a product the company has labeled GoldGraft, for future bone graft surgery. The company would also store patients stem cells for use in future stem cell therapies.

Companies that store stem cells for patients include NeoStem and ViaCord.Uram said shes not aware of any other company today that stores both autograft tissue and stem cells for a patients future use.

Thats the beauty of our offering, she said. Were playing in the stem cell collect-and-store industry, but were giving our customers a way to use that collected tissue before the stem cell industry even takes off, if they need it, through use of bone-grafting tissue. With one collection our products solve multiple health needs.

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Biobank aims to collect stem cells and tissues for use in future bone grafts