Antioxidant stabilized crosslinked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for medical device applications

US8178594B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Zimmer, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Alicia Rufner · Columbia City, US
• John Knight · King's Lynn, GB
• Toni Rowe · Bremen, US
• Dirk Pletcher · Walkerton, US
• Ray Gsell · Winona Lake, US
• Werner Schneider · Erbach, DE
• Hallie E. Brinkerhuff · Warsaw, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 14, 2010
• Grant date: May 15, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 14, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/315
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.