Composite materials using bone bioactive glass and ceramic fibers

US6121172A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania · US

Inventors

• Michele Marcolongo · Chester, US
• Paul Ducheyne · Via Enrico Fermi, US
• Frank Ko · Philadelphia, US
• William LaCourse · Alfred, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 5, 1995
• Grant date: Sep 19, 2000
• Expiry date: Jun 5, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T442/3976
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Composite materials formed from bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and structural fibers are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, a braid or mesh of interwoven bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and structural fibers is impregnated with a polymeric material to provide a composite of suitable biocompatibility and structural integrity. Most preferably, the mesh or braid is designed so that the bioactive fibers are concentrated at the surface of the implant to create a surface comprised of at least 30% bioactive material, thereby providing enhanced bone ingrowth. The interweaving between the bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and the core of structural fibers overcomes the problems found in prior composite systems where the bioactive material delaminates from the polymer. Preferred bioactive materials include calcium phosphate ceramics and preferred structural fibers include carbon fibers. Further preferred bioactive materials include aluminum oxide at greater than 0.2%, by mole. Improved prosthetic implants and methods of affixing an implant are thus also disclosed.