Surgical implant

• US 20060052824A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Murray, Michael A., Powell, Darrel M., Ransick, Mark H., Huitema, Thomas W., Onukuri, Samardh
• Application Number:
  US11/263,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052824A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00929 isolating electrical current

Abstract

The present invention provides a surgical implant which can be made of a metal that corrodes while implanted in tissue. The implant can include an electrical insulator, such as in the form of a film, coating, or surface layer, for reducing the conductivity of the implant. The surgical implant can include a electrical insulator for reducing the conductivity of the implant. By way of example, the surgical implant can be in the form of a staple, and insulator can be in the form of an anodized surface layer.

Claims

1. A surgical implant comprising a conductive portion, and wherein at least a portion of the conductive portion is covered with an electrical insulator.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant is a staple.

3. The implant of claim 1 wherein the electrical insulator comprises an anodized layer.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein the insulator comprises an oxidation layer.

5. The implant of claim 1 wherein the insulator comprises an oxide of the conductive portion.

6. The implant of claim 1 wherein the insulator comprises a film.

7. The implant of claim 1 wherein the insulator comprises a bioresorbable synthetic polymer.

8. The implant of claim 1 wherein the insulator comprises a film or coating having a thickness of between about 2 microns and about 50 microns.

9. The implant of claim 1 wherein the insulator comprises parylene.

10. The implant of claim 1 wherein at least fifty percent of the surface of the implant is covered by the electrical insulator.

11. The implant of claim 1 wherein at least 80 percent of the surface of the implant is covered by the electrical insulator.

12. The implant of claim 1 wherein substantially the entire surface of the implant is covered by the electrical insulator.

13. The implant of claim 1 wherein the surgical implant comprises an alkaline earth metal.

14. The implant of claim 1 wherein the surgical implant comprises magnesium.

15. The implant of claim 1 wherein the surgical implant comprises magnesium and iron.

16. The implant of claim 1 wherein the surgical implant electrical insulator comprises a surface layer having a thickness of at least about 0.00005 inch.

17. The implant of claim 1 wherein electrical insulator comprises a layer having a thickness of between about 0.00005 inch and about 0.00050 inch.

18. The implant of claim 1 wherein the electrical insulator comprises a layer having a thickness of between about 0.00005 and about 0.0001 inch.

19. The implant of claim 1 wherein the electrical insulator comprises a layer having a thickness of between about 0.00005 inch and about 0.0015 inch.

20. The implant of claim 1 wherein the electrical insulator is selectively positioned on the implant to provide a preferential corrosion zone.

21. The implant of claim 1 wherein the surgical implant is adapted to corrode within the body.

22. The implant of claim 1 wherein the surgical implant is adapated to completely corrode within the body in less than about 200 days.

23. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises an alloy comprising magnesium, aluminum, zinc, and iron.

24. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises a magnesium alloy comprising between about 1 percent and about 7 percent aluminum;

about 0.5 percent and about 1.5 percent zinc, and at least about 50 parts per million iron.

25. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises a magnesium alloy comprising between about 1 percent and about 7 percent aluminum;

about 0.5 percent and about 1.5 percent zinc, and between about 50 parts per million iron and about 300 parts per million iron.

26. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises a magnesium alloy comprising between about 1 percent and about 5 percent aluminum;

about 0.5 percent and about 1.5 percent zinc, and between about 50 parts per million iron and about 200 parts per million iron.

27. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises a magnesium alloy comprising about 2.5 percent aluminum and about 3.5 percent aluminum;

about 0.5 and about 1.5 percent zinc; and

between about 100 parts per million iron and about 175 parts per million iron.

28. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises an alloy of an alkaline earth metal and a metal for promoting corrosion of the implant.

29. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises an alloy of an alkaline earth metal and a metal for promoting corrosion of the implant, wherein the metal for promoting corrosion is selected from the group consisting of:

iron, nickel, copper, and cobalt.