Methods of making a polymer and ceramic composite
AssigneeBiomet Sports Medicine, LLC
InventorMukesh Kumar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a polymer/ceramic composite for use in various purposes. For example, the polymer/ceramic composite may be used in orthopedic procedures for replacing bone material, forming an implant, providing an anchor or other appropriate uses. The polymer/ceramic composite may also include selected characteristics such as a hardness, a strength, a bioabsorbability, a biocompatibility or other appropriate characteristics.
Claims29
A method of forming a ceramic and polymer composite for positioning in the anatomy, comprising:
- selecting ceramic particles of a selected size;
- selecting polymer particles of a selected size;
- harmonizing the selected sizes of the polymer particles and of the ceramic particles, wherein the selected size of the polymer particles is at least 0.5 times the selected size of the ceramic particles;
- dissolving the polymer particles in a selected solvent;
- forming a slurry of the dissolved polymer particles and the ceramic particles;
- removing the solvent from the slurry in an amount to cause the slurry to solidify, including adding the slurry to an extraction bath, including a medium that is miscible with the solvent, precipitating the polymer as the solvent is extracted, and changing the extraction bath;
- and
- forming an implant of the solid.
A method of forming a ceramic and polymer composite for positioning in the anatomy, comprising:
- selecting ceramic particles of a selected size;
- selecting polymer particles of a selected size;
- harmonizing the selected sizes of the polymer particles and of the ceramic particles;
- dissolving the polymer particles in a selected solvent;
- forming a slurry of the dissolved polymer particles and the ceramic particles;
- removing the solvent from the slurry in an amount to cause the slurry to solidify relative to the ceramic particles, including:
- adding the slurry to an extraction bath, including a medium that is miscible with the solvent,
- precipitating the polymer as the solvent is extracted, and
- changing the extraction bath;
- and
- forming an implant of the solid.
A method of forming a ceramic and polymer composite for positioning in the anatomy, comprising:
- selecting ceramic particles of a selected size;
- selecting polymer particles of a selected size;
- harmonizing the selected sizes of the polymer particles and of the ceramic particles;
- dissolving the polymer particles in a selected solvent;
- forming a slurry of the dissolved polymer particles and the ceramic particles;
- removing the solvent from the slurry in an amount to cause the slurry to solidify relative to the ceramic particles;
- wherein forming a slurry further includes:
- forming a plurality of batches of the selected ceramic particles and the selected polymer particles;
- blending together the plurality of the batches of the selected ceramic particles and the selected polymer particles;
- and
- forming a construct from the blended batches of the selected ceramic particles and the selected polymer particles.
A method of forming a ceramic and polymer composite for positioning in the anatomy, comprising:
- selecting ceramic particles of a selected size;
- selecting polymer particles of a selected size;
- harmonizing the selected sizes of the polymer particles and of the ceramic particles, wherein the selected the size of the polymer particles is less than about six times the selected size of the ceramic particles;
- dissolving the polymer particles in a selected solvent;
- forming a slurry of the dissolved polymer particles and the ceramic particles;
- removing the solvent from the slurry in an amount to cause the slurry to solidify relative to the ceramic particles;
- and
- forming an implant of the solid;
- wherein removing the solvent includes
- adding the slurry to an extraction bath, including a medium that is miscible with the solvent,
- precipitating the polymer as the solvent is extracted, and
- changing the extraction bath.
A method of forming a ceramic and polymer composite for positioning in the anatomy, comprising:
- selecting ceramic particles of a selected size;
- selecting polymer particles of a selected size wherein at least one of the selected or formed size of the polymer particles is less than about six times the selected size of the ceramic particles and the size of the polymer particles to be at least 0.5 times the selected size of the ceramic particles;
- selecting or forming the selected size of the ceramic particles and the polymer particles such that the ceramic particles disperse in a selected manner to allow forming a composite of the polymer and the ceramic;
- dissolving the polymer particles in a selected solvent;
- forming a slurry of the dissolved polymer particles and the ceramic particles;
- removing the solvent from the slurry in an amount to cause the slurry to solidify and form the composite;
- and
- forming an implant of the composite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.