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US 4,055,862 AGranted
Human body implant of graphitic carbon fiber reinforced ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
AssigneeZimmer USA, Inc.
InventorGene M. Farling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical body implant element that is intended to experience rolling or sliding pressure during its function in the human body comprises microparticles of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene which are fused together into a matrix. A quantity of graphitic carbon fibers of short, random lengths is disposed in intersticies of the matrix. The resultant composite is wear-resistant and substantially isotropic.
Claims6
A medical implant element which is to be subjected to rolling or sliding pressure or a combination of such pressures in the human body, comprising:
- a plurality of microparticles of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene resin fused together into a matrix;
- and a quantity of graphitic carbon, consisting essentially of a substantially unoriented array of short, random length fibers, disposed in interstices of said matrix, said graphitic carbon fiber-containing matrix being a wear-resistant, substantially isotropic member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.