Method of making hydrogel implants
First Claim
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1. A method of making a hydrogel having an outer surface and a plurality of first superficial pores and a plurality of second superficial pores along at least a portion of said outer surface, said method comprising:
- providing a mold having an array of first projections and an array of second projections thereon for creating a plurality of first and second pores;
wherein said array of first projections is configured to form the plurality of first pores, each of said first pores being defined by a first cavity extending from the outer surface of the hydrogel to a bottom surface of said first cavity;
wherein said array of second projections extends from an end of at least one of the first projections, said second projections configured to form the plurality of second pores;
wherein each of said second pores is defined by a second cavity extending below the bottom surface of a first cavity;
casting a hydrogel in the mold;
allowing the hydrogel to form while in the mold; and
removing the hydrogel from the mold;
wherein said first cavities and said second cavities are only located on or near the outer surface of the hydrogel; and
wherein said hydrogel is adapted for long term or chronic implantation such that said hydrogel remains within a joint after implantation to augment cartilage and function as cartilage replacement.
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Abstract
Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of making a hydrogel having an outer surface and a plurality of first superficial pores and a plurality of second superficial pores along at least a portion of said outer surface, said method comprising:
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providing a mold having an array of first projections and an array of second projections thereon for creating a plurality of first and second pores; wherein said array of first projections is configured to form the plurality of first pores, each of said first pores being defined by a first cavity extending from the outer surface of the hydrogel to a bottom surface of said first cavity; wherein said array of second projections extends from an end of at least one of the first projections, said second projections configured to form the plurality of second pores; wherein each of said second pores is defined by a second cavity extending below the bottom surface of a first cavity; casting a hydrogel in the mold; allowing the hydrogel to form while in the mold; and removing the hydrogel from the mold; wherein said first cavities and said second cavities are only located on or near the outer surface of the hydrogel; and wherein said hydrogel is adapted for long term or chronic implantation such that said hydrogel remains within a joint after implantation to augment cartilage and function as cartilage replacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of making a substrate configured for use as a load bearing device within an anatomy, said method comprising:
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providing a mold having a plurality of first and second projections thereon, said first and second projections corresponding to a plurality of first and second superficial cavities to be formed on or near an outer surface of the substrate; wherein each of the first projections is configured to form a first cavity along the outer surface of the substrate; wherein the plurality of second projections extend from at least one of the first projections of the mold, said second projections being configured to form a plurality of second cavities along a bottom surface of at least of the first cavities, each of said second cavities having a cross section that is smaller than a cross-section of the first cavities; pouring a liquid solution of a hydrogel into the mold; allowing the hydrogel to polymerize and crosslink while in the mold; and removing the hydrogel from the mold; wherein the second cavities are located within an area of the first cavities; and wherein said substrate is configured for use as a cartilage replacement device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification