Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An article useful for replacing bone in orthopedic procedures, the article comprising a fabric bag formed of a fabric having openings sized to enable bone growth therethrough, and a plurality of ceramic beads packed within said bag, said beads including beads each comprising a single ceramic body having an outer surface defining a shape having a bulk volume, the outer surfaces of said beads bearing a substantially continuous coating of a biodegradable polymer, said coating enabling said beads to form a coherent, load-supporting mass when subjected to compressive forces to restrain bead breakage due to rubbing together of adjacent beads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An article useful for replacing bone in orthopedic procedures, the article comprising a fabric bag formed of a fabric having openings sized to enable bone growth therethrough, and a plurality of ceramic beads packed within said bag, said beads including beads each comprising a single ceramic body having an outer surface defining a shape having a bulk volume, the outer surfaces of said beads bearing a substantially continuous coating of a biodegradable polymer, said coating enabling said beads to form a coherent, load-supporting mass when subjected to compressive forces to restrain bead breakage due to rubbing together of adjacent beads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said beads have a continuous strong supportive framework of struts providing a plurality of interconnecting interstices defining interconnecting openings extending throughout said volume and opening through the ceramic surface of the beads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 2 wherein said interconnected openings open through said biodegradable polymer coating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said beads are packed together to provide a plurality of openings between said beads and wherein said coatings merge at points of contact between beads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the ceramic body is osteoconductive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the ceramic body comprises hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, or a mixture thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the ceramic body additionally comprises a non-resorbable ceramic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 2 including bone morphogenic protein carried within said interconnected openings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1 including bone morphogenic protein carried within said coating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of any one of claims 1 - 9 wherein said ceramic body shape is generally spheroidal and wherein said beads are substantially uniform in size.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
An article useful for replacing bone in orthopedic procedures, the article comprising a fabric bag formed of a fabric having openings sized to enable bone growth therethrough, said bag having packed therein a plurality of ceramic beads each comprising a ceramic body having an outer surface defining a shape having a bulk volume, the outer surfaces of said beads bearing a substantially continuous coating of a biodegradable polymer and said beads having continuous openings between them, said coating enabling said beads, when subjected to compressive forces, to form a coherent, load-supporting mass when said beads are subjected to compressive forces to restrain bead breakage due to rubbing together of adjacent beads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
An article useful for replacing bone in orthopedic procedures, the article comprising a fabric bag formed of a fabric having openings sized to enable bone growth therethrough, said bag having packed therein a plurality of ceramic beads each comprising a ceramic body having an outer surface defining a shape having a bulk volume, the outer surfaces of said beads bearing a substantially continuous coating of a biodegradable polymer and said beads having continuous openings between them, said coating enabling said beads, when subjected to compressive forces, to form a coherent, load-supporting mass when said beads are subjected to compressive forces to restrain bead breakage due to rubbing together of adjacent beads.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 11 wherein said ceramic bodies are generally spheroidal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 12 wherein said ceramic bodies are substantially uniform in size.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
158 words
An article useful for replacing bone in orthopedic procedures, the article comprising a fabric bag formed of a fabric having openings sized to enable bone growth therethrough, and a plurality of ceramic beads packed within said bag, said beads including beads each comprising a single ceramic body having an outer surface defining a shape having a bulk volume, the outer surfaces of said beads bearing a substantially continuous coating of a biodegradable polymer, said coating enabling said beads to form a coherent, load-supporting mass when subjected to compressive forces to restrain bead breakage due to rubbing together of adjacent beads, said packed beads having continuous openings between beads to provide a first level of porosity, and said ceramic bodies comprising a continuous, strong supportive framework of struts providing a plurality of interconnecting interstices that define interconnecting openings that extend throughout the volume and opening through the ceramic surface of the beads to provide a second level of porosity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
158 words
An article useful for replacing bone in orthopedic procedures, the article comprising a fabric bag formed of a fabric having openings sized to enable bone growth therethrough, and a plurality of ceramic beads packed within said bag, said beads including beads each comprising a single ceramic body having an outer surface defining a shape having a bulk volume, the outer surfaces of said beads bearing a substantially continuous coating of a biodegradable polymer, said coating enabling said beads to form a coherent, load-supporting mass when subjected to compressive forces to restrain bead breakage due to rubbing together of adjacent beads, said packed beads having continuous openings between beads to provide a first level of porosity, and said ceramic bodies comprising a continuous, strong supportive framework of struts providing a plurality of interconnecting interstices that define interconnecting openings that extend throughout the volume and opening through the ceramic surface of the beads to provide a second level of porosity.