Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of preparing an improved bioreactive material for implantation into a human or animal body with chemical bonding to bone tissue, and consisting essentially of, by weight, 5-14% Na 2 O, 0-12% P 2 O 5 , 49-57% SiO 2 , and balance, no more than 33% CaO plus CaF 2 , said material containing 0.5-7% CaF 2 , comprising the steps of: a) preparing a mixture of powders constituting a precursor of said bioreactive material, said mixture consisting essentially of silica, calcium fluoride, at least one sodium compound selected from the group consisting of oxide, carbonates, and phosphates, and at least one calcium compound selected from the group consisting of oxide, carbonates, and phosphates; b) melting, homogenizing, casting and cooling said mixture to obtain an intermediate, non-crystallized glass; c) grinding, degassing, and sintering said intermediate non-crystallized glass; and d) cooling said ground, sintered glass to obtain said bioreactive material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of preparing an improved bioreactive material for implantation into a human or animal body with chemical bonding to bone tissue, and consisting essentially of, by weight, 5-14% Na 2 O, 0-12% P 2 O 5 , 49-57% SiO 2 , and balance, no more than 33% CaO plus CaF 2 , said material containing 0.5-7% CaF 2 , comprising the steps of: a) preparing a mixture of powders constituting a precursor of said bioreactive material, said mixture consisting essentially of silica, calcium fluoride, at least one sodium compound selected from the group consisting of oxide, carbonates, and phosphates, and at least one calcium compound selected from the group consisting of oxide, carbonates, and phosphates; b) melting, homogenizing, casting and cooling said mixture to obtain an intermediate, non-crystallized glass; c) grinding, degassing, and sintering said intermediate non-crystallized glass; and d) cooling said ground, sintered glass to obtain said bioreactive material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising annealing said intermediate, non-crystallized glass before grinding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising shaping by pressing said ground, non-crystallized glass before degassing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said sintering is performed under pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 1, 3 or 4, additionally comprising placing said ground, non-crystallized glass in contact with a second material to form a unit, followed by said steps of degassing, sintering and cooling, to thereby form a composite of said bioreactive material and said second material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the sintering comprises hot isostatic pressing (HIP).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said placing step comprises placing a solid structural member of said second material in a mold, and spreading said ground, non-crystallized glass evenly around said solid member, said composite being a plated composite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said placing step comprises mixing, in a mold, said ground non-crystallized glass with a said second material, which comprises powder or dispersed fibers, said composite being a co-sintered composite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said placing step comprises placing a porous skeleton comprising said second material, or a solid piece covered by a porous skeleton comprising said second material into a mold, and spreading said ground non-crystallized glass evenly therearound in said mold, the composite being a reinforced composite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said porous skeleton comprises Ti fibers, and is formed from bulk Ti fibers by the successive steps of deagglomeration by screening, an initial pickling, annealing, cooling, a second screening, precompacting, deagglomerating, compacting cold into a desired shape, sintering under vacuum, and pickling with an alkaline solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the initial pickling is with a nitric acid solution containing hydrofluoric acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said ground glass has a mean particle size less than 100 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said mean particle size is less than 40 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said step of sintering is carried out under a pressure of 50 to 1000 bars at a temperature of 500° C. to 850° C., which is above the softening point of the non-crystallized glass, for at least 1 minute and no longer than 5 hours.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein the sintering is carried out for at least 15 minutes and no longer than 2 hours, at a temperature of 600°-800° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 5, additionally comprising polishing or machining the composite such that the structural material is visible at a surface of the composite.