Radiation and melt treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene prosthetic devices
First Claim
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1. A medical prosthesis for use within the body, said prosthesis being formed of radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals.
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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.
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Citations
123 Claims
- 1. A medical prosthesis for use within the body, said prosthesis being formed of radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals.
- 18. Radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals.
- 27. A fabricated article formed of radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals.
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36. A method for making a cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals, comprising the steps of:
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providing conventional ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having polymeric chains;
irradiating said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so as to cross-link said polymeric chains;
heating said irradiated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene above the melting temperature of said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so that there are substantially no detectable free radicals in said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene; and
cooling said heated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene to room temperature. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. A method for making crosslinked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, comprising the steps of:
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providing conventional ultra high molecular weight polyethylene;
heating said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene above the melting temperature of said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so as to completely melt all crystalline structure of said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene;
irradiating said heated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene; and
cooling said irradiated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene to about 25°
C. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113)
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114. A method for making highly entangled and crosslinked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, comprising the steps of:
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providing conventional ultra high molecular weight polyethylene;
heating said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene above the melting temperature of said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene for a time sufficient to enable the formation of entangled polymer chains in said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene;
irradiating said heated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so as to trap the polymer chains in the entangled state; and
cooling said irradiated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene to about 25°
C. - View Dependent Claims (115, 116)
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117. A method of making a medical prosthesis from radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals, said prosthesis resulting in the reduced production of particles from said prosthesis during wear of said prosthesis, comprising the steps of:
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providing radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having 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, said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene forming a load bearing surface of said prosthesis. - View Dependent Claims (118)
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119. A method of treating a body in need of a medical prosthesis, comprising:
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providing a shaped medical prosthesis formed of radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals; and
applying said prosthesis to said body in need of said prosthesis. - View Dependent Claims (120, 121, 122, 123)
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Specification