1.  Dennis, R.G., Birla, R., Baar, K. Boluyt, M., Arruda, E.M., Borschel, G.  System and method for guided self-organization of functional cardiac tissue in culture.– Cardioids, Disclosed to UM TMO on March 2003, UM-OTT file 2521. Patent application # 10/663,577.

This patent describes a method for the self organization of primary cardiac myocytes into functional 3-dimensional heart muscle (cardioids).  This method eliminates the need for any synthetic scaffolding material in the contractile region of the tissue construct. 

2.  Brown, D.L., Birla, R.K., Borschel, G.H., Formation of Contractile 3-Dimensional Cardiac Muscle with the Presence of a Vasculature.  Disclosed to UM OTT on September 2004. UM-OTT file # 2967. Patent application # 60/627,941.

This patent describes an in vivo model for the formation of contractile 3-dimensional heart muscle with the incorporation of a vasculature.  The method utilized the in vivo environment as a bioreactor to promote the formation of vascularized heart muscle. 

3.  Huang, Y.C., Birla, R. K. Formation of Contractile 3-Dimensional Cardiac Muscle utilizing a biodegradable fibrin gel.  Disclosed to UM OTT on November 2004.  UM-OTT file 2997.

This patent describes a method for the rapid formation of contractile 3-dimensional heart muscle with the support of a biodegradable fibrin gel.  The utilization of a hydrogel reduces the time for construct formation and reduces the total cost of the model.  This model is particularly useful for the rapid drug screening or optimization of electrical, mechanical and chemical signals on heart muscle.