Method and apparatus for treating bone fractures, and/or for fortifying and/ or augmenting bone, including the provision and use of composite implants, and novel composite structures which may be used for medical and non-medical applications

An implant comprising:

• a core structure comprising
• a matrix material;
• at least one reinforcement component in the form of a sheet, wherein the sheet reinforcement component comprises a matrix and a plurality of rod reinforcement components disposed within the matrix,
• wherein the rod reinforcement components each comprise a matrix and at least one fiber disposed within each matrix,
• wherein the at least one sheet reinforcement component are arranged in layers so as to form the core structure, wherein the layers are separated by the matrix material;
• wherein the at least one reinforcement component comprises from 5% to 85% by volume of the implant;
• and
• an outer region disposed around the core structure, wherein the outer region includes
• a matrix material, wherein the matrix material includes a filler, wherein the filler comprises from 10 to 50 weight percentage of the matrix composition;
• wherein the implant comprises a fiber content from 5 volume percent to about 75 volume percent.

An implant comprising:

• a core structure comprising
• a matrix material;
• at least one reinforcement component in the form of a sheet, wherein the sheet reinforcement component comprises a matrix and a plurality of rod reinforcement components disposed within the matrix,
• wherein the rod reinforcement components each comprise a matrix and at least one fiber disposed within each matrix,
• wherein the at least one sheet reinforcement component are arranged in layers so as to form the core structure, wherein the layers are separated by the matrix material;
• wherein the at least one reinforcement component comprises from 5% to 85% by volume of the implant;
• and
• an outer region disposed around the core structure, wherein the outer region includes
• a matrix material, wherein the matrix material includes a filler, wherein the filler comprises from 1 to 25 percent by volume of the matrix composition;
• wherein the implant comprises a fiber content from 5 volume percent to about 75 volume percent;
• wherein the outer region is added to provide surface features to the implant, wherein the surface features comprise at least one thread and/or at least one barb.