Zimmer Gmbh

Zimmer Technology, Inc.

Dirk Pletcher

Alicia Rufner

John Knight

Hallie E Brinkerhuff

Ray Gsell

Werner Schneider

Toni Rowe

Oludele O Popoola

Clarence M Panchison

Kirt L Case

Dale Frederick Swarts

Archie Newsome

Joel G Scrafton

Randy Schlemmer

Brion R Mimnaugh

Juan Vivanco

Robby Kissling

Zhibin Fang

Kai Zhang

Steven Charlebois

Michael E Hawkins

Brian H Thomas

H Ravindranath Shetty

Steve T Lin

William L Clarke

Gregory S Meadows

Steven L Krebs

Dana Medlin

David M Miller

Gregory K Taylor

William B Clarke

William Clarke

Ravindranath Ii Shetty

Steven J Charlebois

An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.

Antioxidant stabilized crosslinked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene for medical device applications

Various embodiments disclosed relate to antioxidant-stabilized materials including ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), methods of making the same, and medical implants including the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of adding antioxidant to UHMWPE. The method includes obtaining or providing a porous solid material including UHMWPE. The method includes coating the porous solid material with a liquid composition including at least one antioxidant such that at least some of the liquid composition enters void space of the porous solid material, to provide an antioxidant-infused solid material. The method also includes melt-consolidating the antioxidant-infused solid material, to provide a melt-consolidated material.

Antioxidant-infused ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

Various embodiments disclosed relate to melt-stabilized materials including ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), methods of making the same, and medical implants including the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of melt-stabilizing a material including UHMWPE. The method includes obtaining or providing a solid material including UHMWPE including a first concentration of free-radicals. The method includes coating at least part of the solid material with a liquid composition including at least one antioxidant, to provide a coated solid material. The method includes heating the coated solid material in an environment including oxygen, the heating being sufficient to melt at least part of the UHMWPE, to provide a heated material. The method also includes solidifying the heated material, to provide a melt-stabilized material including UHMWPE including a second concentration of free-radicals, wherein the second concentration of free-radicals is less than the first concentration of free-radicals.

Melt-stabilized ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and method of making the same

Antioxidant stabilized crosslinked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for medical device applications

An orthopedic component having multiple layers that are selected to provide an overall modulus that is substantially lower than the modulus of known orthopedic components to more closely approximate the modulus of the bone into which the orthopedic component is implanted. In one exemplary embodiment, the orthopedic component is an acetabular shell. For example, the acetabular shell may include an outer layer configured for securement to the natural acetabulum of a patient and an inner layer configured to receive an acetabular liner. The head of a femoral prosthesis articulates against the acetabular liner to replicate the function of a natural hip joint. Alternatively, the inner layer of the acetabular shell may act as an integral acetabular liner against which the head of the femoral prosthesis articulates.

Method of manufacturing an acetabular component

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to polymer compositions including a protected antioxidant. In some examples, the compositions can also include a deprotected antioxidant, an unprotected antioxidant or both. Methods of producing compositions including a protected antioxidant and articles including a protected antioxidant are also described.

Polymer compositions comprising one or more protected antioxidants

A femoral prosthesis may be formed as a femoral component incorporating a base material and an articulating material. In one exemplary embodiment, the base material is a metal and the articulating material is a polymer. Specifically, the base material provides strength and rigidity to the femoral component, while the articulating material contacts a tibial prosthesis or natural tibia during joint articulation. In one exemplary embodiment, the articulating material forms the articulating surface of one or more condyle portions of the femoral component.

Knee system and method of making same

Orthopedic component of low stiffness

Polymer [[s]] compositions including an antioxidant

Growing community of inventors

Walkerton, IN, United States of America

Dirk Pletcher