Medical implants with increased hydrophilicity

• US 9,107,765 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Difusion, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Difusion Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Ghiselli, Gary, Whang, Peter, Hafiz, Jami, Crudden, Joseph, Johns, Derrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/696,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 523/113
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0071 thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/446 with other specific inorganic fillers other than those covered by A61L27/443 or A61L27/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/12 Polyphenylene oxides

Abstract

Devices such as orthopedic implants are composed of a thermoplastic resin such as polyaryletheretherketone (PEEK), and include a ceramic species, such as a zeolite, to enhance its hydrophilic properties. The ceramic species can be a surface coating, can be incorporated or embedded into the thermoplastic resin, or can be both a surface coating and incorporated or embedded into the resin. In certain embodiments, the ceramic species is zeolite that is incorporated into the device, especially at the exposed surface of the device, and is devoid of antimicrobial metal ions. The device is introduced into the body surgically.

Claims

1. A medical implant having an exposed surface, said implant comprising a thermoplastic resin having aluminosilicate particles incorporated therein, said aluminosilicate particles being devoid of antimicrobial metal ions and being present in said resin in an amount sufficient to impart a negative charge to said exposed surface of said implant.

2. The implant of claim 1, where said implant is an interbody spinal cage.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic resin comprises PEEK.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein said aluminosilicate is represented by the formula XM_2/nO.Al₂O₃.YsiO₂.ZH₂O wherein M represents an ion-exchangeable ion, n represents the atomic valency of the (metal) ion, X and Y represent coefficients of metal oxide and silica respectively, and Z represents the number of water of crystallization.

5. A method of minimizing biofilm formation in a patient, comprising implanting in said patient a device having an exposed surface, said device comprising a thermoplastic resin having aluminosilicate particles incorporated therein, said aluminosilicate particles being devoid of antimicrobial metal ions and being present in said resin in an amount sufficient to impart a negative charge to said exposed surface of said device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said aluminosilicate is represented by the formula XM_2/nO.Al₂O₃.YsiO₂.ZH₂O wherein M represents an ion-exchangeable ion, n represents the atomic valency of the (metal) ion, X and Y represent coefficients of metal oxide and silica respectively, and Z represents the number of water of crystallization.

7. A medical implant having an exposed surface, said implant comprising a thermoplastic resin having aluminosilicate particles incorporated therein, said aluminosilicate particles being devoid of antimicrobial metal ions, wherein said aluminosilicate particles are present in an amount effective for rendering said exposed surface hydrophilic.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein said thermoplastic resin comprises PEEK.

9. The implant of claim 7, wherein said implant is an interbody spinal cage.

10. The implant of claim 7, wherein said aluminosilicate is represented by the formula XM_2/nO.Al₂O₃.YsiO₂.ZH₂O wherein M represents an ion-exchangeable ion, n represents the atomic valency of the (metal) ion, X and Y represent coefficients of metal oxide and silica respectively, and Z represents the number of water of crystallization.