Calcium-hydroxide-treated polymeric implant material

Claim 2

An implant material for hard tissue, the implant material comprising a porous matrix comprised of a biologically-compatible polymeric material and a quantity of calcium hydroxide distributed in the pores of the matrix, the pores having dimensions effective to permit the growth of hard tissue into the pores, the quantity of calcium hydroxide being effective to induce the growth of hard tissue in the pores.

Claim 3

The implant material according to claim 1 in which the porous matrix comprises a mass of polymeric particles, each particle having an inner core comprised of a first biologically-compatible polymeric material and having an outer coating generally surrounding the inner core, the outer coating being comprised of a second biologically-­compatible polymeric material, the second material being hydrophilic and having a composition different from the composition of the first polymeric material, the particles being bonded together to form a unitary prosthetic implant, the prosthetic implant having interstices between the bonded particles forming pores into which hard tissue can grow,

Claim 4

The implant material according to claim 2 in which the first polymeric material is an acrylic polymer.

Claim 5

The implant material according to claim 3 in which the first polymeric material is polymethylmethacrylate.

Claim 6

The implant material according to claim 3 in which the second polymeric material is a polymeric hydroxyethylmethacrylate.

Claim 7

The implant material according to claim 5 in which the polymeric hydroxyethylmethacrylate comprises a copolymer of monomeric hydroxyethylmethacrylate and a cross-­linking agent.

Claim 8

The implant material according to claim 5 in which the prosthetic implant is shaped to form a tooth root.

Claim 9

The implant material according to claim 5 in which the prosthetic implant is shaped to form section of bone.

Claim 10

The implant material according to claim 8 in which the prosthetic implant is shaped to form a section of jawbone.

Claim 11

The implant material according to claim 1 further including a radio-opaque material.

Claim 12

The implant material according to claim 10 in which the radio-opaque material is barium sulfate.

Claim 13

The implant material according to claim 1 in which the pores have a size of from about 350 to about 415µm.

Claim 14

A packing material for forming in vivo prosthetic implants for hard tissue, the packing material comprising: (a) a mass of disjoint polymeric particles, each particle having an inner core comprised of a first biologically-compatible polymeric material and having an outer coating generally surrounding the inner core, the outer coating being comprised of a second biologically-compatible polymeric material, the second polymeric material being hydrophilic and having a composition different from the composition of the first polymeric material, the particles being of a size to permit the mass of the disjoint particles to be packed in a body cavity to form a prosthetic implant for hard tissue with interstices between compacted particles of the prosthetic implant forming pores into which tissue can grow; and (b) a quantity of calcium hydroxide distributed in the mass of polymeric particles, the quantity of calcium hydroxide being effective to induce the growth of hard tissue in the pores of the mass of the particles when packed in a body cavity

Claim 15

A packing material for forming in vivo prosthetic implants for hard tissue, the packing material comprising: (a) a mass of disjoint polymeric particles, each particle having an inner core comprised of a first biologically-compatible polymeric material and having an outer coating generally surrounding the inner core, the outer coating being comprised of a second biologically-compatible polymeric material, the second polymeric material being hydrophilic and having a composition different from the composition of the first polymeric material, the particles being of a size to permit the mass of the disjoint particles to be packed in a body cavity to form a prosthetic implant for hard tissue with interstices between compacted particles of the prosthetic implant forming pores into which tissue can grow; and (b) a quantity of calcium hydroxide distributed in the mass of polymeric particles, the quantity of calcium hydroxide being effective to induce the growth of hard tissue in the pores of the mass of the particles when packed in a body cavity

Claim 16

The packing material of claim 13 in which the diameter of the polymeric particles is in the range of from about 590 to about 840 µm.

Claim 17

The packing material of claim 14 in which the first polymeric material is an acrylic polymer.

Claim 18

The packing material of claim 15 in which the first polymeric material is polymethylmethacrylate.

Claim 19

The packing material of claim 15 in which the second polymeric material is a polymeric hydroxyethylmethacrylate.

Claim 20

The packing material according to claim 13 in which the calcium hydroxide forms a coating on outer surfaces of the polymeric particles.

Claim 21

The packing material according to claim 18 in which the coating of calcium hydroxide on the polymeric particles is formed by wetting the mass of polymeric particles with an aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide and then allowing the solution to dry.

Claim 22

The packing material according to claim 19 in which the concentration of calcium hydroxide in the calcium hydroxide solution is in the range of from about 0.05 to about 1 percent by weight.