1185 results about "Implant material" patented technology

The present invention relates to compositions or combinations of materials for non-degradable and degradable implantable medical devices with regard to the setup of their signal generating properties and control of their therapeutic effectiveness, as well as to a method for the control of degradation of degradable or partially degradable medical devices composed like this, based on their signal generation, and to a method for supervision of their therapeutic effectiveness and / or the release of therapeutically active ingredients from such devices.

Silver-containing, sol-gel derived bioactive glass compositions and methods of preparation and use thereof are disclosed. The compositions can be in the form of particles, fibers and / or coatings, among other possible forms, and can be used, for example, for treating wounds, improving the success of skin grafts, reducing the inflammatory response and providing anti-bacterial treatments to a patient in need thereof. Anti-bacterial properties can be imparted to implanted materials, such as prosthetic implants, sutures, stents, screws, plates, tubes, and the like, by incorporating the compositions into or onto the implanted materials. The compositions can also be used to prepare devices used for in vitro and ex vivo cell culture.

This invention provides a vertebral implant for impaction in a disc space to restore and / or maintain desired disc space height and spinal orientation. The implant has an elongated basis body having a generally lens-shape provided by convex upper and lower surfaces. Bearing surfaces are provided on the cross-edge surfaces of the endwalls. Grooves are provided in the upper and lower surfaces positioned between the bearing surfaces. The implant can be prepared from a wide variety of materials including metallic materials, synthetic materials, polymeric materials, ceramic materials, and composite materials including reinforced materials i.e. glass, fiber, and / or carbon fiber reinforced materials (CFRP). These preferred materials for fabricating implants in the present invention reduce costs, increase service life and provide excellent physiological compatibility. The non-metallic material can be selected to be either a substantially permanent material, a biodegradable material or a bioerodable material. Further, the implant material can be provided to be radio opaque to facilitate monitoring of bone ingrowth both into the implant and between the opposing endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.

A method and apparatus for enhancing the integrity of an implantable sensor. Voids formed between an outer tubing and a sensor substrate or spacing element may be back-filled with a curable, implantable material, minimizing the extent to which unwanted fluids diffuse within the sensor. An enzyme or protein matrix pellet below the sensor window may be pre-treated with a reducing agent to enhance its bond stability, and to reduce undesired swelling that may cause the sensor window to detach or leak. The bonding between the enzyme pellet and a hydrogel layer may be reinforced by application of an intervening bonding layer of a protein material, such as human serum albumin (HSA). The size of the window may be minimized by minimizing the size of an underlying electrode, providing reduced flux and lengthening sensor. A coating may be deposited on the surface of the sensor leads, providing stiffening and lubrication.

This relates to an improved delivery system for accurately loading and controlling the delivery of flowable material to a patient. Particularly, the system may be used in the injection of hard tissue implant materials such as PMMA under pressures up to about 4000 psi. The system includes an applicator with a first column having an implant material introduction section adapted to provide for effective loading of the implant material and a second column housing a piston. The introduction section has a larger size than that of a vessel section or bore in which the requisite pressure seal between the piston and bore wall is formed. The first column may include an introduction section flared open to an included larger funnel-like opening or a separate funnel may be used that interfaces with the introduction section to facilitate the introduction of implant material. Handles on the first and second columns to be turned relative to each other to advance the columns toward each other may be provided for manual actuation of the applicator to drive implant material through a cannula and deliver implant material to a desired site.

A resorbable implant for interposition arthroplasty which is intended to fill a void between two adjacent bone ends, providing a cushion between the bone ends to prevent impingement of the bone ends while providing time for tissue to infiltrate into the space occupied by the implant. It has a protracted resorption time of preferably at least three months to allow time for the proliferation of load-bearing host fibrous tissue in place of the resorbed implant material. The implant preferably is porous with a pore size of greater than about 80 microns in order to enhance infiltration of fibrous tissue. The implant has a modulus in the range of 0.8 to 20 MPa which is soft enough to allow it to conform to surface irregularities of the adjacent bone surfaces while being hard enough to maintain a desired separation between those bones while tissue infiltration replaces the resorbable implant material. The implant may be preformed to the desired shape or alternatively may be formable by the surgeon by methods such as carving with a scalpel. A preferred application for the implant is as a trapezium bone replacement.

A hybrid medical implant having a biocompatible, nonabsorbable core portion and a bioabsorbable textured outer surface portion overlying the core portion. The hybrid implant is useful as a prosthesis for tissue augmentation and / or reconstruction. The core portion of the implant includes a body formed from a nonabsorbable, biocompatible implantable material such as silicone or urethane elastomer. The core portion may be either a solid body, a viscous gel body or a fluid-filled shell. The textured outer surface portion envelops the core portion and presents an irregular, bioabsorbable textured surface to the exterior environment. As a capsule forms around the implant following implantation, the irregular contour of the outer surface of the implant disorients structural proteins in the capsule to impede spherical contraction thereof. Either during the formation of the capsule and / or after the capsule is formed, the outer bioabsorbable surface portion of the implant is absorbed by the body of the host. After bioabsorbtion of the bioabsorbable outer surface portion, the remaining core portion of the implant remains enveloped by the capsule but unattached to capsular tissue. The outer bioabsorbable portion of the hybrid implant may include more than one biocompatible, bioabsorbable material.

An implant unit used in surgery has a body made from osteogenic implantable material and including an implant portion and a retaining portion, which is coupled to and extends transversely to the implant portion. The retaining portion is attached to the sidewall of the adjoining vertebral body or mammal bone to prevent displacement of the implant portion relative to the vertebral body or mammal bone and to accelerate fusion therebetween.

A mediator molecule is immobilized on the surface of a metallic or ceramic implant material. An anchor molecule such as a dialdehyde having a functional group that covalently binds the mediator molecule is covalently bound to the surface, and the mediator molecule is coupled to the functional group of the anchor molecule. The implant material may be composed of titanium, titanium alloy, aluminum, stainless steel or hydroxylapatite. Oxide units on the surface of the implant material can be increased preferably by treating with hot chromic-sulphuric acid for 0.5 to 3 hours at a temperature between 100 to 250° C. prior to binding the anchor molecule. Also, prior to binding the anchor molecule, the surface of the implant material can be activated by reacting with a silane derivative. Mediator molecules include BMP protein, ubiquitin and antibiotics, and the implant material may be an artificial joint or coronary vessel support such as a stent.

The invention discloses a method for preparing a medical porous tantalum material. The method comprises the following steps of: mixing a poly ethanol aqueous solution and tantalum powder to obtain slurry, wherein the mass concentration of the poly ethanol aqueous solution is 2 to 8 percent; injecting the slurry into an organic foam by vibrating and pressurizing, wherein the vibrating frequency is 20 to 80 times / min; drying; degreasing; sintering, namely raising temperature to 1,500 to 1,800 DEG C at the speed of 10 to 20 DEG C / min under the vacuum degree of 10<-4> to 10<-3>Pa, preserving heat for 120 to 240 minutes, cooling to 200 to 300 DEG C along with a furnace, raising temperature to 1,500 to 1,800 DEG C at the speed of 10 to 20 DEG C / min again, preserving heat for 180 to 240 minutes, raising temperature to 2,000 to 2,200 DEG C at the speed of 5 to 10 DEG C / min, and preserving heat for 120 to 360 minutes; cooling; and performing thermal treatment, namely raising temperature to 800 to 900 DEG C at the speed of 10 to 20 DEG C / min under the vacuum degree of 10<-4> to 10<-3> Pa, preserving heat for 240 to 480 minutes, cooling to 400 DGE C at the speed of 2 to 5 DGE C / min, preserving heat for 120 to 300 minutes, and cooling to room temperature along with the furnace. The porous tantalum prepared by the method is very suitable to be used for the medical implant material for replacing bearing bone tissues, and biocompatibility and the mechanical property can be guaranteed simultaneously.

An injection system for delivering viscous fluids is disclosed. Exemplary fluids included flowable hard tissue implant material such as Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The system comprises a manual actuator, a control line and a dispenser. The control line may be flexible cable set within a housing running between the actuator and dispenser head. In which case, the actuator is designed to enable reciprocal movement of the cable relative to the cable housing. The actuator may be designed for one-handed use like a syringe. Components of the dispenser may be utilized as a mixing vessel prior to inserting a drive unit to enable fluid delivery. Prior to use, fluid is loaded into a portion section of the drive unit from a reservoir section of the dispenser head by retracing the cable via the retractor. Fluid is expelled from the dispenser portion of the system upon advancing the cable.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a cellulose based paper, the paper itself and the use thereof where the paper exhibits enhanced mechanical properties. The method involves providing a suspension of well dispersed modified cellulose at a low concentration. The properties and the chemical structure of the paper make it suitable for in vivo applications such as implant material.

The resorption of a medical implant can be controlled with the use of particles embedded in a resorbable bulk material forming the implant or portion thereof. The implant can be removed from a body of a mammal by natural biological mechanisms after use. The resorption of the implant can involve swelling and / or hydrolyzing of the particles within the implant upon contact with a body fluid such that porosity and flow of fluid within the bulk material of the implant is increased. Resorption of the implant may also involve the use of particles with magnetic properties embedded within the implant such that an applied magnetic field causes the particles to vibrate within the bulk material thereby increasing the porosity and thus the flow of fluid, hence facilitating resorption of the implant. The resorption rate of the implant can be controlled by modulating swelling, hydrolysis, or movement of the embedded particles.

The self-expandable endovascular apparatus for aneurysm occlusion of the invention comprises a deformable shape memory frame with at least a partial segment covering comprised of a matrix implant material. The device can be folded and / or stretched to adopt a narrow profile for loading into a coaxial delivery device and expands in place as it adopts its original shape on release from the device into an aneurysm. A method of treating an aneurysm, comprises the steps of: (a) providing the self-expandable endovascular apparatus inserted into a lumen of a delivery device comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a distal tip; (b) advancing the distal tip of the delivery device into an opening in an aneurysm having an interior sac; (c) advancing the apparatus through the lumen into the opening; and (d) withdrawing the delivery device, whereby the apparatus expands into the sac and covers the opening.

An improved flexible component used for dynamic stabilization of spinal segments for the treatment of vertebrae deformities and injuries and for the replacement of a complete or segment of the body of a vertebra in the spine is described. The flexible component is comprised of a solid, suitable implant material with a longitudinal bore the entire length and an appropriately formed slot which extends spirally around the shaft either continuously or segmentally. The flexible component may be encapsulated, fully or partially, in a suitable implant grade elastomeric resilient material. When used for a dynamic stabilization device, the component is attached to the vertebral bodies by pedicle screws know to those in the art. When used as a vertebral replacement device, attached to the component's opposite ends are members for attachment to the adjacent vertebra that allow for height and angular adjustment.

A pressure applicator for applying pressure to a flowable implant material, e.g., PMMA. A pressure applicator or driver includes a pair of columns which are engageable with one another, preferably by threads to generate a driving pressure. A handle is provided for the operator to grasp and steady the device as he turns the handle to apply pressure to the implantable material within the applicator. A luer-lock or other connecting device is provided for attaching the applicator to a cannula (or a connecting conduit that in turns connects with a cannula) that will deliver the implant material to the desired site. Pressures of about 1000-3000 psi may be generated by this device.

Bioactive spinal implant materials having optimized radiopacity, stiffness, and bioactivity properties for formulation of shaped bodies capable of withstanding large dynamic, compressive loads are provided. The invention also provides methods of making the optimized implant materials.

The resorption of a medical implant can be controlled with the use of particles embedded in a resorbable bulk material forming the implant or portion thereof. The implant can be removed from a body of a mammal by natural biological mechanisms after use. The resorption of the implant can involve swelling and / or hydrolyzing of the particles within the implant upon contact with a body fluid such that porosity and flow of fluid within the bulk material of the implant is increased. Resorption of the implant may also involve the use of particles with magnetic properties embedded within the implant such that an applied magnetic field causes the particles to vibrate within the bulk material thereby increasing the porosity and thus the flow of fluid, hence facilitating resorption of the implant. The resorption rate of the implant can be controlled by modulating swelling, hydrolysis, or movement of the embedded particles.

The invention is directed toward a sterile cartilage defect implant material comprising milled lyophilized allograft cartilage pieces ranging from 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm in size in a bioabsorbable carrier taken from a group consisting of sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid and its derivatives, gelatin, collagen, chitosan, alginate, buffered PBS, Dextran or polymers with allogenic chondrocytes or bone marrow cells in an amount exceeding the natural occurrence of same in hyaline cartilage and adding a cell growth additive.

Osteogenic bone implant compositions that approximate the chemical composition of natural bone are provided. The organic component of these implant compositions is osteoinductive despite the presence of the inorganic component and, further, is present in an amount sufficient to maximize the regenerative capabilities of the implant without compromising its formability and mechanical strength. The composition may be an osteoinductive powder, including demineralized bone matrix (DBM) particles, a calcium phosphate powder, and, optionally, a biocompatible cohesiveness agent. The powder may be combined with a physiologically-acceptable fluid to produce a formable, osteoinductive paste that self-hardens to form a poorly crystalline apatitic (PCA) calcium phosphate having significant compressive strength. The bone implant materials retain their cohesiveness when introduced at an implant site and are remodeled into bone in vivo. Methods for using these implant materials to repair damaged bone and a method of assaying the content of DBM particles, by weight, in a bone implant material are also provided.

a biocompatible and biodegradable implant for a cavity in a bone of a living organism is made of a biocompatible and biodegradable granules which are selected from the group including biopolymers, bioglasses, bioceramics preferably calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate such as monocalcium phosphate monohydrate, monocalcium phosphate anhydrous, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, dicalcium phosphate anhydrous, tetracalcium phosphate, calcium orthophosphate phosphate, α-tricalcium phosphate, β-tricalcium phosphate, apatite such as hydroxyapatite, or a mixture thereof. The biocompatible and biodegradable granules are provided with a coating, which comprises at least one layer of a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer which is selected from the group including poly((α-hydroxyesters), poly(orthoesters), polyanhydrides, poly(phosphazenes), poly(propylene fumarate), poly(ester amides), poly(ethylene fumarate), polylactide, polyglycolide, polycaprolactone, poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate), polydioxanone, co-polymers thereof and blends of those polymers. The biocompatible and biodegradable implants are obtained by fusing together the polymer-coated granules through polymer-linkage of the polymer coatings of neighboring granules.

An enhanced visibility composition for implantation from a remote source, so that the composition can be readily observed under fluoroscopy or other imaging techniques is disclosed. The compositions include a biocompatible matrix, such as a hard tissue implant material for example, and radiopaque tracer particles mixed in the matrix. The radiopaque tracer particles have a particle size between about 120μ and 2200μ, more preferably about 350μ and 2200μ, even more preferably between about 450μ and 1600μ, and most preferably between about 570μ and 1150μ. Preferably the hard tissue implant and the radiopaque tracer particles are formed or prepared in a slurry. Optionally, the enhanced visibility composition may further include additional radiopaque contrast particles mixed in with the composition, which have a particle size between about 120μ and 350μ, preferably between about 120μ and 250μ.

An apparatus and method of performing a minimally invasive posterior spine fusion. More specifically an apparatus with a handle and a forked head on the distal end of the handle is used to grasp implant material and introduce the material to an implant site. The shaft of the apparatus is shaped so as to allow the affixation of a drill guide and drill while simultaneously holding the implant material in the implant site. After removal of the boring tools and assembly of the fusing element, the apparatus can be selectively removed from the implant site. A method of achieving facet joint fusion with near simultaneous fixation is also disclosed.

Compositions containing strontium fortified calcium nanoparticles and / or microparticles, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The strontium fortified calcium compounds contain calcium ions, calcium atoms, strontium ions, strontium atoms, and combinations thereof and one or more anions. Exemplary anions include, but are not limited to, citrate, phosphate, carbonate, and combinations thereof. The particles can be formulated for enteral or parenteral administration by incorporating the particles into a pharmaceutically carrier. The compositions can further contain one or more active agents useful for bone diseases or disorders, such as vitamin D, growth factors, and combinations thereof. The compositions can be used to treat or prevent one or more bone diseases or disorders of the bone, such as osteoporosis. Alternatively, the particles can be coated onto a substrate, such as the surface of an implant. The coatings can be used to improved biocompatibility of the implant, prevent loosening of the implant, reducing leaching of metal ions from metallic implants, and reduce corrosion. The coatings can be applied to the substrate using a variety of techniques well known in the art. In one embodiment, the coating is applied using electrophoretic deposition. The use of nano- and / or microparticles that provide high surface area helps to improve interfacial strength between the coating and the implant, which allows for the use of lower sintering temperatures. Lowering sintering temperatures minimizes or prevents thermal decomposition of the coating material and / or degradation of the implant material.

An implant device for spinal interbody fusion surgery has a shape substantially similar to a human excavated disc space, and includes a first modular end section, at least one modular middle section disposed adjacent to the first modular end section, a second modular end section disposed adjacent to the modular middle section and wherein when the first end section, the middle section and the second end section are placed adjacent to each other, the implant device has a shape with is substantially oval, viewed from top, and a cross section which is bi-convex. The preferred embodiment of the implant device is manufactured from human bone material that has been formed into the shape of the modular components. Alternative embodiments are manufactured from non-human material such as hydrooxyapetite, ceramics, coral and other biodegradable material. Non-resorptable plastic and metal can be used as internal structural members of the implant modules.

A composite multilayer implantable material having a first inner tubular layer formed of expanded polytetrafluoroethyene having a porous microstructure defined by nodes interconnected by fibrils, wherein said first layer has a plurality of pleated folds, a second tubular layer formed of textile material circumferentially disposed exteriorly to said first layer; and having an elastomeric bonding agent applied to one of said first layer or second layer and disposed within the pores of said microstructure for securing said first layer to said second layer.

Implantable materials having defined patterns of affinity regions for binding endothelial cells and providing for directed endothelial cell migration across the surface of the material. The affinity regions include photochemically altered regions of a material surface and physical members patterned on the material surface that exhibit a greater affinity for endothelial cell binding and migration than the remaining regions of the material surface.

A sterile container assembly for storing sterile allograft tissue implant material is constructed with sidewalls, end walls and a base member defining an open faced cavity and a flange surrounding and extending outward from the cavity. A step and a spacer is formed in each end wall of the container and a cylindrical implant container sized to fit into the container cavity is positioned adjacent the end wall spacers. The implant container has a housing and a threadable cap with a vent hole formed therein which is covered by an insert member constructed of sintered PTFE mounted inside the cap. A foil cover is sealed to the flange of the container covering and sealing the container cavity and the cylindrical implant container mounted therein.