Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
Tendon prosthesis consisting of a core and of a sheath, the core consisting essentially of a linear polymer oriented predominantly in the direction of the main axis of the prosthesis and having a tensile strength of at least 100 kg/cm 2 the core as a whole having an elastic elongation in the range of between 8 and 50 percent, of its resting length, the sheath consisting of at least one layer of a substantially non-oriented hydrophilic polymer which is crosslinked and has an elastic elongation at least equal to and a water swelling capacity at least equal to said core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
Tendon prosthesis consisting of a core and of a sheath, the core consisting essentially of a linear polymer oriented predominantly in the direction of the main axis of the prosthesis and having a tensile strength of at least 100 kg/cm 2 the core as a whole having an elastic elongation in the range of between 8 and 50 percent, of its resting length, the sheath consisting of at least one layer of a substantially non-oriented hydrophilic polymer which is crosslinked and has an elastic elongation at least equal to and a water swelling capacity at least equal to said core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Tendon prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the oriented linear polymer of the core is hydrophilic having at least 15 percent swelling capacity in water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Tendon prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the oriented linear polymer core comprises filaments embedded in an unoriented hydrogel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Tendon prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein a part of the core forms a filamentary reinforcement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Tendon prosthesis according to claim 4, wherein the filamentary reinforcement comprises a knitwork having an elastic elongation approximately equal to that of the other components of the core.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Tendon prothesis according to claim 1, characterized in that the core protrudes at the ends from the sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
Tendon prosthesis according to claim 4, characterized in that the filamentary reinforcement protrudes from the ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Tendon prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that said sheath consists of a sparingly crosslinked 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Tendon prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that said core consists of oriented linear polymer filaments embedded in an oriented hydrogel.