Use of hydrogels to fix bone replacements
AssigneeM.U.R.S.T. (Italian Ministry for Universities and Scientific and Technological Research)
InventorsLuigi Nicolais, Luigi Ambrosio, Paolo Antonio Netti, Lanfranco Callegaro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are orthopedic fasteners and replacements such as nails, screws, pins, hip and knee replacements, etc., coated with hydrogels and other biocompatible/biodegradable materials which expand in the presence of liquids. Swelling of such coatings causes the fastener or replacement to be securely fixed into position once inserted into bone material. Useful coating materials include methacrylates, hyaluronic acid esters, and crosslinked esters of hyaluronic acid resulting from the esterification of hyaluronic acid with polyhydric alcohols. Also provided is a method for fixing a bone or bone replacement in position employing such coated orthopedic fasteners or replacements.
Claims26
An orthopedic fastener or replacement, covered with a second coating comprising a hydrogel or other biocompatible, biodegradable material which expands in the presence of a liquid, wherein said hydrogel or other biocompatible, biodegradable material is a member selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, a semi-interpenetrating polymer network composed of crosslinked poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) and poly(caprolactone), a copolymer of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate and methylmethacrylate, poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), a hyaluronic acid ester, and a crosslinked ester of hyaluronic acid resulting from the esterification of hyaluronic acid with polyhydric alcohols;
- and
- wherein said fastener or replacement is first coated with a first coating of a non-swelling polymer possessing groups chemically and/or physically related to those of said hydrogel or said biocompatible, biodegradable material before coating said fastener or replacement with either said hydrogel or said biocompatible, biodegradable material.
A method for fixing a bone or bone replacement in position, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a hole in existing bone to accommodate a fastener;
- (b) locating a bone or bone replacement adjacent to said existing bone, said bone or bone replacement having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener;
- (c) providing an orthopedic fastener or replacement, covered with a second coating comprising a hydrogel or other biocompatible, biodegradable material which expands in the presence of a liquid, wherein said hydrogel or other biocompatible, biodegradable material is a member selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, a semi-interpenetrating polymer network composed of crosslinked poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) and poly(caprolactone), a copolymer of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate and methylmethacrylate, poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), a hyaluronic acid ester, and a crosslinked ester of hyaluronic acid resulting from the esterification of hyaluronic acid with polyhydric alcohols;
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- wherein said fastener or replacement is first coated with a first coating of a non-swelling polymer possessing groups chemically and/or physically related to those of said hydrogel or said biocompatible, biodegradable material before coating said fastener or replacement with either said hydrogel or said biocompatible, biodegradable material;
- and
- (d) inserting said fastener of step (c) into the holes in said existing bone and said bone or bone replacement such that said coating absorbs fluid and swells, thereby securely fixing said bone or bone replacement in position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.