Areal implant

US5658343A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Sulzer Medizinaltechnik AG · CH

Inventors

• Hans Jörg Häuselmann · Bellinzona, CH
• Mats Paulsson · Cologne, DE
• Peter Bittmann · Gaggenau, DE
• Thomas Thaler · Jena, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 6, 1995
• Grant date: Aug 19, 1997
• Expiry date: Jun 6, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61L2430/06
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

This invention provides an implant (prosthesis) for the replacement of defective biological tissue part. In particular, the implants of this invention are well suited for the replacement of cartilage, more preferably for the replacement of articular cartilage. In one embodiment, the implants comprise a micromatrix constructed from an upper boundary layer and a lower boundary layer where the upper and said lower boundary layers are connected via an intermediate layer with fibers. The implant also includes a nanomatrix situated within the intermediate layer. The nanomatrix contains elements of a size on the order of magnitude of nanometers. The intermediate layer accommodates the nanomatrix such that, for a growing inner pressure the boundary layers are mutually held at a preset distance from one another.