Orthopedic device of biocompatible polymer with oriented fiber reinforcement

A composite hip joint for human implantation, comprising:

• a) a stem including a distal end, a longitudinal curved body extending from the distal end, said curved body culminating in a neck;
• b) said composite hip joint having an outer surface and comprising a biocompatible polymer matrix;
• and
• c) reinforcing plies stacked one atop the other with the matrix, said plies being formed of continuous fibers generally parallel to each other, each of the plies being curved to substantially correspond to the longitudinal curvature of the body;
• wherein a majority of the reinforcing plies are oriented at a non-zero angle to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal curved body of the hip joint stem.

An orthopaedic device having improved axial, bending and torque bearing properties for human implantation;

• comprising:
• a body with a longitudinal curve and a longitudinal axis;
• a matrix of biocompatible polymeric material defining the shape of the body and having an outer surface;
• and
• a plurality of planar reinforcing fiber plies embedded within said matrix, said plies each having a longitudinal axis;
• wherein the fibers with each ply are continuous and oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of each ply and a majority of the planar plies are oriented at a non-zero angle to the longitudinal axis of the device.

A composite hip joint for human implantation comprising a stem with a distal end, a longitudinal curved body with a longitudinal axis, a neck, and an outer surface, the hip joint comprising:

• a longitudinally curved biocompatible polymer matrix;
• and
• reinforcing planar plies embedded in the matrix, said plies being formed of continuous fibers generally parallel to each other;
• wherein a majority of the planar plies are oriented at a non-zero angle to the longitudinal axis.