Fibrous and cartilaginous tissue replacement
OwnerJoseph H. Kronmaninventor
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Abstract
Disclosed is new type of implantable material for replacement of cartilaginous or fibrous tissue. The material has controlled porosity and is biocompatible. A method for making this material is also disclosed.
Claims20
A biocompatible implant for replacement of fibrous connective tissue comprising a hydrophilic polymeric material having pores of a single controlled pore size randomly distributed throughout the body of said implant, substantially all of said pores comprising a single pore size in a selected range of about 300 to about 450.mu. in diameter, said pores being formed in said polymeric material by:
- A. dispersing water-dissolvable salt crystals of a size corresponding to said single pore size of about 300 to 450.mu. in diameter in an unpolymerized monomer of a hydrophilic polymerizable material;
- B. polymerizing said monomer with said salt crystals dispersed therein to form a polymeric material with said salt crystals randomly dispersed throughout substantially all of said implant;
- C. subjecting said polymeric material with salt crystals dispersed therein to an aqueous solution whereby said salt crystals are dissolved, and form said pores in said polymerical material at locations previously occupied by said salt crystals;
- and
- D. shaping said polymeric material into said implant.
A biocompatible implant for replacement of cartilaginous tissue comprising a hydrophilic polymeric material having pores of a single controlled size randomly distributed throughout the body of said implant, substantially all of said pores comprising a single pore size in a selected range of about 225 to about 275.mu. in diameter, said pores being formed in said polymeric material by:
- A. dispersing water-dissolvable salt crystals of a size corresponding to said single pore size of about 225 to about 275.mu. in diameter in an unpolymerized monomer of a hydrophilic polymerizable material;
- B. polymerizing said monomer with said salt crystals dispersed therein to form a polymeric material with salt crystals randomly dispersed through substantially all of said implant;
- C. subjecting said polymeric material with salt crystals dispersed therein to an aqueous solution whereby said salt crystals are dissolved, and form said pores in said polymeric material at locations previously occupied by said salt crystals;
- and
- D. shaping said polymeric material into said implant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.