Accelerated implant polymerization

Abstract

A process for accelerating the polymerization of an implant is provided. Specifically, a process for accelerating the bond between a surgical adhesive and tissue is provided. The accelerated bonding is achieved by applying radio and/or acoustic energy to the adhesive/tissue interface such that the adhesive is coupled to the energy and absorbs a substantial quantity of the applied energy. The process comprising the steps of: a) applying said adhesive to tissue or bone, b) applying radio and/or acoustic energy to the adhesive deposited on the tissue or bone, c) dissipating the applied energy within the adhesive so as to promote adhesive/fluid mixing at the adhesive/tissue interface, d) dissipating the applied energy within the adhesive so as to activate chemical bonding at the adhesive/tissue interface, and e) dissipating the applied energy within the adhesive so as to increase the reaction rate both of the internal polymerization of the adhesive and of the adhesive/tissue interface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.