US5879400A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Melt-irradiated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene prosthetic devices
Assignee: General Hospital Corp
•
Filing: 1996-02-13
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2016-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A medical prosthesis for use within the body which is formed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene which has a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 ANGSTROM lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus, so as to reduce production of fine particles from the prosthesis during wear of the prosthesis, is described. Methods of manufacture of such devices and material used therein are also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward W. Merrill
- 👤 William H. Harris
- 👤 Premnath Venugopalan
- 👤 Murali Jasty
- 👤 Charles R. Bragdon
- 👤 Daniel O. O'Connor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61L27/16; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/32; A61F2/46; A61F2/4657; A61F2/30767; A61F2/3094; A61F2/34; A61F2/36; A61F2/3662; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30065; A61F2002/30084; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30125; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30158; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30317; A61F2002/30324; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30604; A61F2002/30616; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30682; A61F2002/30685; A61F2002/30934; A61F2002/3233; A61F2002/3453; A61F2002/3462; A61F2002/348; A61F2002/3493; A61F2002/3495; A61F2/3609; A61F2002/3611; A61F2002/3623; A61F2002/3625; A61F2002/3631; A61F2002/365; A61F2002/4631; A61F2002/4666; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0071; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0008; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0026; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0036; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00029; A61F2310/00035; A61F2310/00071; A61F2310/00179; A61L2430/00; A61L2430/24; B; B29; B29C; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/085; B29C43/00; B29C43/02; B29C43/16; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0087; B29K2995/0089; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/7532; C; C08; C08F; C08F110/00; C08F110/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A medical prosthesis for use within a body, said prosthesis being formed of cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus, so as to reduce production of fine particles from said-prosthesis during wear of said prosthesis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A medical prosthesis for use within a body, said prosthesis being formed of cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus, so as to reduce production of fine particles from said-prosthesis during wear of said prosthesis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has substantially no trapped free radicals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has a Shore D scale hardness of less than about 65.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is substantially not oxidized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has substantially no chain scission.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said polymeric structure has extensive cross-linking so that a substantial portion of said polymeric structure does not dissolve in decahydronaphthalene at 150° C. over a period of 24 hours.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has a high density of entanglement so as to cause formation of imperfect crystals and reduce crystallinity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has an initial average molecular weight of greater than about 2 million.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has a polymeric structure with about 40% crystallinity, about 100 Å lamellar thickness and about 200 MPa tensile elastic modulus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein part of said prosthesis is in a form of a cup shaped article having a load bearing surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The prosthesis of claim 10 wherein said load bearing surface is in contact with a second part of said prosthesis having a mating load bearing surface of a metallic or ceramic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is constructed and arranged for hip or knee joint replacement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure characterized by less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure characterized by less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of claim 13 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has high transmissivity of light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of claim 13 wherein said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is a film or sheet, said film or sheet being transparent and wear resistant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fabricated article formed of cross-linked ultra high molecular weight poplyethylene having a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fabricated article formed of cross-linked ultra high molecular weight poplyethylene having a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fabricated article of claim 16 wherein said fabricated article is in a form of a bar stock capable of being shaped into a second article by machining.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fabricated article of claim 16 wherein said fabricated article has a load bearing surface.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of making a prosthesis from cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so as to reduce production of fine particles from the prosthesis during wear of the prosthesis, comprising the steps of: providing cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus; and forming a prosthesis from said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so as to reduce production of fine particles from said prosthesis during wear of said prosthesis, said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene forming a load bearing surface of said prosthesis.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of making a prosthesis from cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so as to reduce production of fine particles from the prosthesis during wear of the prosthesis, comprising the steps of: providing cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus; and forming a prosthesis from said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene so as to reduce production of fine particles from said prosthesis during wear of said prosthesis, said ultra high molecular weight polyethylene forming a load bearing surface of said prosthesis.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of treating a body in need of a prosthesis, comprising: providing a shaped prosthesis formed of cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus; and applying said prosthesis to said body in need of said prosthesis.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of treating a body in need of a prosthesis, comprising: providing a shaped prosthesis formed of cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure with less than about 50% crystallinity, less than about 290 Å lamellar thickness and less than about 940 MPa tensile elastic modulus; and applying said prosthesis to said body in need of said prosthesis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |