Shaped load-bearing osteoimplant and methods of making same

A load-bearing osteoimplant comprising a shaped coherent mass of bone particles possessing a wet compressive strength of at least about 3 MPa.

A method for making a load-bearing osteoimplant which comprises:

• a) providing an aggregate containing bone particles and, optionally, one or more optional components selected from the group consisting of binder, filler, plasticizer, wetting agent, surface active agent, biostatic/biocidal agent, bioactive substance, reinforcing material and reinforcing structure;
• and,
• b) shaping the aggregate into a coherent mass in at least one shaping operation to provide a shaped composite having an initial configuration for subsequent shaping into a desired osteoimplant or a final configuration corresponding to that of the osteoimplant.

An integral implant insertion instrument and implant comprising an implant insertion instrument portion integrally attached to an implant portion by a weakened, break-away connection such that on insertion of the implant portion at the implantation site, the implant insertion instrument portion is separated from the implant portion by a breaking-away force applied thereto, the implant portion being a load-bearing osteoimplant comprising a shaped, coherent mass of bone particles.

A load-bearing osteoimplant comprising a shaped, coherent mass of bone particles possessing a bulk density of greater than about 0.7 g/cm3 and a wet compressive strength of at least about 3 MPa, wherein the bone particles comprise a combination of nondemineralized and demineralized bone.