Self-buffering medical implants
First Claim
1. A medical implant comprising a bioerodible portion comprising:
- a bioerodible polymer matrix that degrades under physiological conditions to form acidic degradation products; and
a bioerodible metal within the bioerodible polymer matrix, wherein the bioerodible metal degrades under physiological conditions to form basic degradation products, the acidic degradation products and the basic degradation products buffering at least a portion of the medical implant,wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a plurality of fibers comprising the bioerodible polymer metallized with the bioerodible metal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical implant includes a bioerodible portion that includes a bioerodible polymer and a bioerodible metal. The bioerodible polymer matrix degrades under physiological conditions to form acidic degradation products. The bioerodible metal degrades under physiological conditions to form basic degradation products. The acidic degradation products and the basic degradation products buffer at least a portion of the medical implant. In one aspect, the bioerodible portion includes a bioerodible polymer matrix and a bioerodible metal within the bioerodible polymer matrix. In another aspect, the medical implant can include a body, a plurality of discrete deposits of the bioerodible polymer on the body, and a plurality of discrete deposits of the bioerodible metal on the body.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A medical implant comprising a bioerodible portion comprising:
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a bioerodible polymer matrix that degrades under physiological conditions to form acidic degradation products; and a bioerodible metal within the bioerodible polymer matrix, wherein the bioerodible metal degrades under physiological conditions to form basic degradation products, the acidic degradation products and the basic degradation products buffering at least a portion of the medical implant, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a plurality of fibers comprising the bioerodible polymer metallized with the bioerodible metal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification