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Science & Tissue

Know exactly what you're placing.

Amniotic membrane is the innermost layer of the placental membranes. This page describes the tissue and the controlled path Vistagraft follows from donation to distribution. Clinical statements are drawn from, and attributed to, the peer-reviewed literature.

What amniotic membrane is

The innermost layer of the placental membranes.

Amniotic membrane is a thin, translucent tissue that forms the innermost layer of the fetal membranes. In the peer-reviewed literature it is described as comprising three layers — an epithelium, a basement membrane, and an avascular stroma — and has a long history of described use in ophthalmic surgery as an ocular surface covering, a basement-membrane substitute, and a temporary graft.

Tissue structure

Three described layers

  • Epithelial layer

    A single layer of epithelial cells on the surface of the membrane, resting on the basement membrane.

  • Basement membrane

    One of the thickest basement membranes in the body, described in the literature as a substrate for epithelial cells.

  • Stroma

    An avascular connective-tissue stroma, described as comprising a compact layer, a fibroblast layer, and an outer spongy layer.

Epithelial layer
Basement membrane
Stroma — compact
Stroma — fibroblast
Stroma — spongy

Illustrative representation of the described layers of amniotic membrane. Not to scale.

From donation to distribution

A controlled, documented tissue chain.

Every Vistagraft allograft follows a defined sequence of recovery, screening, testing, eligibility review, processing, terminal sterilization, and packaging — with traceability maintained throughout.

  1. 01

    Consented donation & recovery

    Tissue is recovered from screened donors following consent or authorization, using aseptic technique in a controlled environment.

  2. 02

    Donor screening

    Donor eligibility is assessed through medical and social history and review of relevant records.

  3. 03

    Infectious-disease testing

    Serological and NAT testing is performed by an FDA-registered, CLIA-certified laboratory (42 CFR Part 493).

  4. 04

    Medical Director review

    A Medical Director reviews screening and test results to make the donor eligibility determination.

  5. 05

    Aseptic processing

    Eligible tissue is processed into a dehydrated allograft under controlled, aseptic conditions within a defined quality system.

  6. 06

    Terminal sterilization

    The packaged allograft is terminally sterilized by Electron Beam Radiation (EBEAM) to a Sterility Assurance Level of 10⁻⁶.

  7. 07

    Packaging & traceability

    Dual-pouch packaging and a tissue traceability (TTR) record support lot traceability from donation to distribution.

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References & attribution

Grounded in the peer-reviewed literature

Literature, not product claims

Statements about amniotic membrane on this page describe the tissue and its reported use as an ocular surface covering in the peer-reviewed literature. They are provided for informational purposes and are not claims about the performance of Vistagraft. Vistagraft is regulated as a Section 361 HCT/P for homologous use as a covering on the ocular surface. Clinical decisions are the sole responsibility of the treating physician.
  1. Dua HS, Gomes JAP, King AJ, Maharajan VS. The amniotic membrane in ophthalmology. Surv Ophthalmol. 2004;49(1):51–77.

    DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2003.10.004PubMed: 14711440

  2. Malhotra C, Jain AK. Human amniotic membrane transplantation: different modalities of its use in ophthalmology. World J Transplant. 2014;4(2):111–121.

    DOI: 10.5500/wjt.v4.i2.111PubMed: 25032100

  3. Meller D, Pauklin M, Thomasen H, Westekemper H, Steuhl KP. Amniotic membrane transplantation in the human eye. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2011;108(14):243–248.

    DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2011.0243PubMed: 21547164

Bibliography compiled from PubMed-indexed, peer-reviewed literature. Citations describe amniotic membrane generally and do not constitute claims regarding Vistagraft.

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