Joint spacers
AssigneeDsm IP Assets B.V.
InventorsLawrence P. LAVELLE, Jacob RIFFEY, Albert LLENAS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Joint spacers are disclosed. In an embodiment, a joint spacer comprises a foam (1), a first articular surface (3) and a second articular surface (4). The foam has a first porosity at a first location and a second porosity, less than the first porosity, at a second location. In an embodiment, the first porosity is more proximate a first external surface (5) of the joint spacer and the second location is more proximate a second external surface (6) of the joint spacer.
Claims29
A joint spacer comprising a foam, the joint spacer having a first articular surface and a second articular surface, the first articular surface and the second articular defining a thickness of the joint spacer,
- wherein a first outward facing surface is defined by the thickness of the joint spacer, the first articular surface, and the second articular surface,
- wherein a second outward facing surface is opposite the first outward facing surface and defined by the thickness of the joint spacer, the first articular surface, and the second articular surface,
- wherein the foam has a first porosity at a first location and a second porosity, less than the first porosity, at a second location, the first location being more proximate the first outward facing surface than the second outward facing surface and the second location being more proximate the second outward facing surface than the first outward facing surface.
A method of forming a joint spacer comprising the steps of:
- a. compressing a foam into a mold;
- and
- b. locking the foam in its compressed state,
- wherein the foam comprises a first articular surface formed at the interface of the foam and the depth of a mold cavity, and second articular surface opposite the first articular surface, wherein the porosity of the foam varies as a function of the thickness of the foam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.