Composition for effecting bone repair

Claim 2

A composition suitable for implantation to effect bone repair, comprising a plurality of biocompatible particles selected from polyglycolic acid, lactic acid, glycolide, lactide, dioxanone, e-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate and mixtures thereof, the particles being dispersed in a cellulose ether matrix.

Claim 3

A composition suitable for implantation to effect bone repair, comprising a plurality of biocompatible particles selected from xenograft bone, homologous bone, autogenous bone, hydroxyapatite and polymethylmethacrylate coated with polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate and mixtures thereof dispersed in a cellulose ether matrix.

Claim 4

A composition as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said cellulose ether is selected from methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

A composition suitable to effect bone repair comprising a plurality of biocompatible particles dispersed in a matrix selected from cellulose ether, collagen, hyaluronic acid, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of hyaluronic acid, derivatives of hyaluronic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of hyaluronic acid derivatives, and mixtures thereof, to provide a measured stiffness of from about 0.01 lb/in to about 10 lb/in when wetted with liquid medium.

Claim 6

A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said biocompatible particles comprise bioabsorbable material.

Claim 7

A composition as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from polyglycolic acid, glycolide, lactic acid, lactide, dioxanone, e-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate and mixtures thereof.

Claim 8

A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said biocompatible particles comprise nonbioabsorbable material.

Claim 9

A composition as claimed in claim 8, wherein said nonbioabsorbable material is selected from xenograft bone, homologous bone, autogenous bone, hydroxyapatite and polymethylmethacrylate and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

A composition as claimed in claim 9 wherein said nonbioabsorbable material is polymethyl methacrylate coated with polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate.

Claim 11

A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the matrix contributes from about 6% to about 36% by weight of the composition.

Claim 12

A composition as claimed in claim 11 in which the matrix contributes from about 8% to about 27% by weight of said composition.

Claim 13

A composition as claimed in claim 12, in which the matrix contributes from about 10% to about 18% by weight of said composition.

Claim 14

A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising at least one of an antimicrobial agent, a growth promoting factor and an osteogenic agent.

Claim 15

A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which, when wetted, has a measured stiffness of from about 0.05 lb/in to about 5 lb/in.

Claim 16

A composition as claimed in claim 15, with a measured stiffness of from about 0.1 lb/in to about 3.0 lb/in.

Claim 17

A composition suitable for implantation to effect bone repair, comprising a plurality of biocompatible particles of polymethylmethacrylate coated with polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate dispersed in a matrix selected from hyaluronic acid, pharamaceutically acceptable salt of hyaluronic acid, derivative of hyaluronic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable salt of hyaluronic acid derivative and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

A composition suitable for implantation to effect bone repair, comprising a plurality of biocompatible particles of polymethylmethacrylate coated with polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate dispersed in a collagen matrix.

Claim 19

A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, dispersed or dissolved in a liquid or hydrating medium to form a moldable, semi-solid mass having a measured stiffness of about 0.01 lb/in to about 10 lb/in.

Claim 20

A composition as claimed in claim 19, wherein said hydrating medium is selected from water, saline solution, and blood.