Amorphous metal alloy medical devices

• US 9,956,320 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zuli Holdings, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zuli Holdings, Ltd.
• Inventors: Richter, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US14/661,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20150190552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 148, 623 2371
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/145 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/04 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/34 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/10 Scrim [e.g., open net or mesh, gauze, loose or open weave or knit, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/188 Metal or metal-coated fiber-containing scrim
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/654 Including a free metal or alloy constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/656 Preformed metallic film or foil or sheet [film or foil or sheet had structural integrity prior to association with the nonwoven fabric]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/657 Vapor, chemical, or spray deposited metal layer

Abstract

This invention provides a new class of medical devices and implants comprising amorphous metal alloys. The medical devices and implants may be temporary or permanent and may comprise other materials as well, such as polymers, ceramics, and conventional crystalline or polycrystalline metal alloys.

Specifically, this invention provides implantable surgical fabrics comprising amorphous metal alloys. The presence of amorphous metal alloys in these fabrics can serve a variety of purposes, including structurally reinforcing the surgical fabric and/or imparting to the fabric the ability to shield against harmful radiation. The fabric may be used inside or outside the body during medical procedures. Further, the implantable surgical fabrics may be woven or non-woven fabrics.

Claims

1. A surgical fabric comprising:

a laminate having more than one non-woven sheet, said more than one non-woven sheet directly bonded to an amorphous metal alloy, said amorphous metal alloy disposed within the fabric.

2. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the amorphous metal alloy is configured to structurally reinforce the more than one non-woven sheet.

3. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the amorphous metal alloy is a continuous layer throughout the laminate formed by a process selected from the group consisting of:

free jet melt-spinning, planar flow casting, sputter deposition, ion implantation, and solid-phase reaction.

4. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the amorphous metal alloy comprises an amorphous metal foil.

5. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the amorphous metal alloy comprises an amorphous metal mesh.

6. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the more than one non-woven sheet each comprise a polymer.

7. The surgical fabric of claim 6, wherein the more than one non-woven sheet is selected from the group consisting of:

fluoropolymer and polyolefin.

8. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the surgical fabric is configured to shield against radiation.

9. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the surgical fabric is implantable.

10. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the amorphous metal alloy comprises an element selected from the group consisting of:

silicon, boron, and phosphorous.

11. The surgical fabric of claim 1, wherein the amorphous metal alloy is an iron-based alloy containing Fe, Cr, B, and P.