Orthopedic device of biocompatible polymer with oriented fiber reinforcement
US5064439A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 1987 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S623/911
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Orthopedic device of biocompatible polymer with oriented fiber reinforcement. There is provided a device such as a hip stem which has a longitudinally curved body. The reinforcing fibers are continuous filament fiber plies with parallel oriented fibers in each ply. The plies are curved longitudinally to approximately correspond to the curve of the body. In one embodiment, there are longitudinally oriented fiber plies at or near the surfaces of the device and plies with fibers offset at 5.degree.-40.degree. from the longitudinal axis between the surface layers. The fiber orientation is balanced by providing a ply of negatively angled offset fibers of a similar angle for each positively angled offset ply. The device is made by molding plies preimpregnated with polymer (prepregs) simultaneously, by molding a plurality of prepregs into segments which are then molded together, or by molding a segment and incrementally molding additional layers of prepregs thereto in a series of progressively larger molds.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.