Orthopaedic device for implantation in the body of an animal and method for making the same
AssigneeDePuy Products, Inc.
InventorRichard King
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of preparing a orthopaedic implant which includes removing low-molecular-weight compounds from a mass of polymeric material from which the implant is made.
Claims47
A method of preparing a crosslinked UHMWPE bearing for use in an orthopaedic implant, the method comprising:
- removing low-molecular-weight compounds from a mass of crosslinked UHMWPE;
- and
- forming the mass of crosslinked UHMWPE into a bearing configured for use in an orthopaedic implant.
A implantable orthopaedic device, comprising:
- an orthopeadic bearing component made of crosslinked UHMWPE, wherein the crosslinked UHMWPE contains 0.1% or less aliphatic hydrocarbons which have a molecular weight of 5000 or less.
A method of preparing a polymeric material for implantation into a body of an animal, wherein the polymeric material has been subjected to a free radical quenching process, the method comprising:
- removing low-molecular-weight compounds from the polymeric material subsequent to the free radical quenching process.
A method for enhancing the biocompatability of polymeric material utilized to form an orthopaedic device, comprising:
- removing low-molecular-weight compounds from the polymeric material utilized to form the orthopaedic device.
A method of preparing a polymeric material for implantation into a body of an animal, comprising:
- positioning the polymeric material in a first chamber;
- subjecting the polymeric material to a free radical quenching process while the polymeric material is positioned in the first chamber;
- removing the polymeric material from the first chamber and placing the polymeric material in a second chamber;
- and
- removing low-molecular-weight compounds from the polymeric material while the polymeric material is positioned in the second chamber.
A method of preparing a crosslinked UHMWPE bearing for use in an orthopaedic implant, the method comprising:
- removing an amount of polyethylene molecules having a molecular weight of 5000 or less from a mass of crosslinked UHMWPE so that the mass of crosslinked UHMWPE contains 0.1% or less of polyethylene molecules having a molecular weight of 5000 or less;
- and
- forming the mass of crosslinked UHMWPE into a bearing configured for use in an orthopaedic implant.
A method of treating a polymeric orthopaedic bearing, the method comprising:
- removing compounds having a molecular weight of 5000 or less from the polymeric orthopaedic bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.