Orthopedic implant with porous polymer bone contacting surface
AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorMichael Wallick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to orthopedic implants including a porous, non-metallic, bone interface or outer bone contacting surface adapted for promoting bone ingrowth into the pores of such surface. The present disclosure also relates to orthopedic implants having a porous, non-metallic and/or polymeric bone interface or outer bone contacting surface wherein the implant has a stiffness that approaches or substantially matches the stiffness of the surrounding bone and thereby reduces the effects of stress shielding. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making such implants.
Claims20
An orthopedic device for implantation into bone tissue comprising:
- a bone fixation member having a core;
- and
- an outer polymeric body surrounding at least a portion of the core;
- the outer polymeric body including:
- an inner portion;
- an outer portion further defining a porous bone contacting surface adapted for bone tissue ingrowth, wherein the outer portion has a greater porosity than the inner portion;
- and
- an intermediate portion positioned between the inner portion and the outer portion, wherein the intermediate portion includes a first region and a second region, and wherein the first region is positioned between the inner portion and the second region and has a greater porosity than the inner portion and the second region.
A method for making an implantable orthopedic device, comprising:
- introducing a first polymer into a mold;
- introducing a second polymer into the mold to force the first polymer to an interior surface of the mold to provide a polymeric body having an inner portion and outer portion, the outer portion comprising a polymeric bone contacting surface;
- forming pores in at least the bone contacting surface;
- and
- exposing the pores of the polymeric bone contacting surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.