What is "alloderm"

Alloderm is an ECM Biomaterial marketed by LifeCell Corporation that is used in reconstructive and dental surgeries; it is derived from skin taken from donated cadavers. Alloderm has been used to reconstruct breasts experimentally after breast cancer surgery. Alloderm has been used as a gingival graft in periodontics; when using Alloderm, there is no need for a palatal donor site Alloderm has been used for abdominal hernia repair. Alloderm has been used in otorhinolaryngology as implants to rebuild resected turbinates in the treatment of Empty nose syndrome.

Lifecell the marketer of Alloderm was founded in 1986 in Texas; sales of Alloderm were $93,000 in 1994 shortly after the product launched and were $2 million by 1996. There was a major voluntary recall of Alloderm in 2005 due to problems at a tissue supplier, Biomedical Tissue Services. Sales were $146M in 2006, a 50% increase over the prior year. Sales reached $167 million by 2007, and in 2008 LifeCell was acquired by Kinetic Concepts for $1.7B.