Method of making load bearing hydrogel implants
AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorsBarbara D. Boyan, Robert E. Guldberg, Stephen J. Kennedy, David N. Ku
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Abstract
Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis.
Claims15
A method of making a hydrogel having a hydrogel surface, comprising:
- contacting solid objects with a liquid hydrogel;
- allowing the liquid hydrogel to polymerize and crosslink while the solid objects are at least partially immersed along a surface region of the hydrogel;
- and
- removing said solid objects from the polymerized and crosslinked hydrogel to form a plurality of superficial pores thereon;
- wherein said superficial pores are located at or near said hydrogel surface;
- and
- wherein said superficial pores do not extend throughout an entire depth of said hydrogel.
A method of making an implantable hydrogel, comprising:
- providing a liquid hydrogel;
- allowing the liquid hydrogel to polymerize and crosslink so as to form a generally smooth hydrogel surface;
- and
- abrading the hydrogel surface to form a plurality of superficial pores;
- wherein said superficial pores are located at or near said hydrogel surface;
- and
- wherein said superficial pores do not extend throughout an entire depth of said hydrogel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.