Methods and materials for modulating construct wear due to cyclic loading

Abstract

The methods described herein can be used to produce constructs that are stronger and more resilient when subjected to repeated cyclic loading. The constructs can be formed by fabricating the construct in its mid-point conformation, and then repositioning the construct in its deployment conformation. Alternatively or additionally, the constructs can be formed with additional polymeric material and/or metals added in particular locations that correspond with the pattern of principal stress distribution when the construct is in use. Alternatively or additionally, the constructs can be formed with a plurality of fibers or metal particles embedded therein, where the fibers/particles are oriented in the direction(s) of major load(s) that are applied to the construct during use. Also described are constructs formed by the methods described above. The constructs are used in devices, medical implants, plastic flaps, tubing and/or pipes, and/or the wings of an airplane that are subjected to repeated cyclic loading.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.