The present invention is directed to a method of growing new bone,
bone-like tissue or extracellular matrix under in vitro cell culture
conditions. The method utilizes a bioreactor allowing for the flow of
nutrient solutions into, through, and out of the bioreactor, wherein
ground demineralized bone and bone-forming cells are present in the
bioreactor. The resulting bone, bone-like tissue or extracellular matrix
produced by the invention are within the scope of the present invention.
In addition, the present invention is directed to the bioreactor device
used to grow the new bone, bone-like tissue, or extracellular matrix.