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US 9,173,970 B2Granted
Biodegradable bone plates and bonding systems
AssigneesUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell, Novaplast Corporation
InventorsStephen McCarthy, Jeffrey Weinzweig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to novel internal fixation devices, such as bone plates, generally and novel craniomaxillofacial bone plates more specifically and systems for bonding the same. More specifically, the invention relates to bone plates made of a polymer blend of (poly)lactic acid and Ecoflex as well as a novel hot-melt adhesive polymer blend of the same material.
Claims18
A method for bonding an internal fixation device to tissue, comprising:
- placing an internal fixation device in contact with tissue to be fixed;
- applying energy to the internal fixation device to melt at least a portion thereof;
- allowing the melted portion of the internal fixation device to harden such that the internal fixation device is affixed to the tissue without the use of a secondary fixation device,
- wherein the internal fixation device is a porous, bioactive plate.
1 more element
A method for bonding tissue, comprising:
- melting a bioabsorbable polymer adhesive;
- applying the melted bioabsorbable polymer adhesive onto at least one bone tissue segment to be fixed such that the melted polymer contacts the at least one bone tissue segment;
- and
- affixing the at least bone tissue segment to at least one other portion of bone tissue without the use of a secondary fixation device,
- wherein the bioabsorbable polymer adhesive comprises a first polymer or co-polymer in a co-continuous phase with a second polymer or co-polymer, and
- wherein the first polymer or co-polymer includes polylactic acid and the second polymer or co-polymer includes polyester.
3 more elements
A method for bonding an internal fixation device to tissue, comprising:
- placing an internal fixation device in contact with tissue to be fixed;
- applying energy to the internal fixation device to melt at least a portion thereof;
- allowing the melted portion of the internal fixation device to harden such that the internal fixation device is affixed to the tissue without drilling or perforating through the tissue,
- wherein the internal fixation device is a porous, bioactive plate.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.