Radiation and melt treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene prosthetic device and method
AssigneesThe General Hospital Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsEdward W. Merrill, William H. Harris, Murali Jasty, Orhun Muratoglu, Charles R. Bragdon, Daniel O. O'Connor, Premnath Venugopalan
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Abstract
A medical prosthesis for use within the body which is formed of radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals, is described. Preferred prostheses exhibit reduced production of particles from the prosthesis during wear of the prosthesis, and are substantially oxidation resistant. Methods of manufacture of such devices and material used therein are also provided.
Claims16
A medical prosthesis for use within the body, said prosthesis being formed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, which has been radiation treated and melted such that the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has substantially no detectable free radicals.
A method for making a cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) having substantially no detectable free radicals, comprising the steps of:
- providing conventional UHMWPE having polymeric chains wherein said UHMWPE is a cup or tray shaped article for use in a prosthesis;
- irradiating said UHMWPE so as to cross-link said polymeric chains;
- heating said irradiated UHMWPE above the melting temperature of said UHMWPE so that there are substantially no detectable free radicals in said UHMWPE;
- and
- cooling said heated UHMWPE to room temperature.
A method of making a medical prosthesis from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene which has been radiation treated and melted such that the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has substantially no detectable free radicals, wherein said prosthesis results in the reduced production of particles from said prosthesis during wear of said prosthesis, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- providing ultra high molecular weight polyethylene which has been radiation treated and melted such that the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has substantially no detectable free radicals;
- and
- forming a medical prosthesis from said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so as to reduce production of particles from said prosthesis during wear of said prosthesis, wherein
- said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene forms a load bearing surface of said prosthesis.
A method of treating a body in need of a medical prosthesis, comprising:
- providing a shaped medical prosthesis formed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene which has been radiation treated and melted such that the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has substantially no detectable free radicals;
- and
- applying said prosthesis to said body in need of said prosthesis.
A medical prosthesis for use within a body, wherein the medical prosthesis comprises cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) prepared by irradiation and melting, wherein the cross-linked UHMWPE is oxidation resistant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.