# US 5,263,991 A · Method for heating biocompatible implants in a thermal packaging line

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- Number: US 5,263,991 A
- Document ID: US5263991A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/964,373
- Filed: 1992-10-21
- Granted: 1993-11-23
- Earliest claimed: 1992-10-21
- Assignees: Biomet, Inc.
- Inventors: Roy C. Wiley; David R. Sarver
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5263991A

## CPC

- A61F 7/02: Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
- A61F 2/0095: {Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants (for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02)}
- A61F 2/30723: {Plugs or restrictors for sealing a cement-receiving space (tools for inserting plugs A61F2/4614; sealing collars for use during cementing A61B17/8808)}
- A61F 7/03: thermophore, i.e. self-heating, {e.g. using a chemical reaction}
- A61L 27/18: obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- A61L 27/50: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials}
- F24V 30/00: Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion
- A61B 2050/0017: {Chemical heating}
- A61B 2050/002: {having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip}
- A61B 2050/314: {Flexible bags or pouches}
- A61F 2/32: for the hip
- A61F 2/3676: {Distal or diaphyseal parts of shafts}
- A61F 2/4614: {of plugs for sealing a cement-receiving space}
- A61F 2002/30062: {(bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive}
- A61F 2002/30092: {using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol}
- A61F 2002/30118: {concentric circles}
- A61F 2002/30797: {internally-threaded}
- A61F 2002/30884: {Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity}
- A61F 2002/30892: {parallel}
- A61F 2002/4631: {the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented}
- A61F 2007/0292: {using latent heat produced or absorbed during phase change of materials, e.g. of super-cooled solutions}
- A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable
- A61F 2210/0014: using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
- A61F 2230/0006: circular
- A61L 2430/02: for reconstruction of bones; weight-bearing implants
- Y10S 623/901: Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- F24V: COLLECTION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A thermal packaging unit for a biocompatible implant. The thermal packaging unit includes a first compartment for storing the biocompatible implant. In addition, the thermal packaging unit further includes a second compartment which is operable to contain a chemical composition which is able to heat the biocompatible implant by means of an exothermic reaction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for heating a preformed biocompatible implant comprising the steps of:
disposing said preformed biocompatible implant in a thermal packaging unit, said thermal packaging unit including
(a) means for receiving said biocompatible implant, and
(b) means for delivering thermal energy to said biocompatible implant upon activation of said thermal packaging unit;
activating said thermal packaging unit so as to cause said thermal energy to be delivered to said biocompatible implant;
allowing said biocompatible implant to be heated to a temperature where said biocompatible implant becomes deformable; and
removing said biocompatible implant from said thermal packaging unit after said biocompatible implant becomes deformable.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the additional step of reinserting said biocompatible implant into said thermal packaging unit so as to cause thermal energy to be delivered to said biocompatible implant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said thermal packaging unit further includes a first compartment containing a first chemical composition, said step of activating said thermal packaging unit further including the step of introducing a second chemical composition into said first compartment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein said first chemical composition includes calcium chloride and said second chemical composition includes water.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein said second chemical composition is disposed within a second compartment, said step of introducing said second chemical composition into said first compartment further includes the step of rupturing said second compartment so as to cause said second chemical composition to react with said first chemical composition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of introducing said second chemical composition into said first compartment includes the step of injecting said second chemical composition into said first compartment so as to cause said second chemical composition to react with said first chemical composition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said thermal packaging unit further comprises an activation disk, said step of activating said thermal packaging unit further including the step of deforming said activation disk.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the additional step of maintaining the sterility of said biocompatible implant from when said biocompatible implant is disposed within said thermal packaging unit until when said biocompatible implant is removed from said thermal packaging unit.