Bearing material of medical implant having reduced wear rate and method for reducing wear rate
US7812098B2 · kind B2 · utility
1Cited by
39References
21Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31938
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Disclosed is a bearing material of a medical implant comprising a polymer such as UHMWPE and a surface active agent that is not covalently bonded to the polymer. The bearing material has a reduced wear rate. Also disclosed is a method of reducing the wear rate of a polymeric bearing material of a medical implant when it articulates against a hard counterface in the presence of synovial fluid, the method comprising providing a surface active agent in the synovial fluid in close proximity to the bearing surface, the hard counterface, or both.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.