Smith & Nephew Richards Inc.

Richards Medical Company

Frederick S Georgette

James A Davidson

Kenneth L Reifsnider

Fu-Kuo Chang

A method of forming a porous matrix and a porous matrix having a uniform surface, depth and a controlled microstructure is provided. The uniform matrix to provide for fixation of prosthetic device by tissue ingrowth is formed through the action of heat and pressure in a hot isostatic pressing process. Such a process provides a porous matrix having a uniform surface and depth due to the isostatic pressure applied and a controlled microstructure of the material due to the relatively low temperatures employed.

Prosthetic device with porous matrix and method of manufacture

Orthopedic device of biocompatible polymer with oriented fiber reinforcement. There is provided a device such as a hip stem which has a longitudinally curved body. The reinforcing fibers are continuous filament fiber plies with parallel orienated fibers in each ply. The plies are curved longitudinally to approximately correspond to the curve of the body. In one embodiment, there are longitudinally oriented fiber plies at or near the surfaces of the device and plies with fibers offset at 5.degree.-40.degree. from the longitudinal axis between the surface layers. The fiber orientation is balanced by providing a ply of negatively angled offset fibers of a similar angle for each positively angled offset ply. The device is made by molding plies preimpregnated with polymer (prepregs) simultaneously, by molding a plurality of prepregs into segments which are then molded together, or by molding a segment and incrementally molding additional layers of prepregs thereto in a series of progressively larger molds.

Orthopedic device of biocompatible polymer with oriented fiber

Orthopedic device of biocompatible polymer with oriented fiber reinforcement. There is provided a device such as a hip stem which has a longitudinally curved body. The reinforcing fibers are continuous filament fiber plies with parallel oriented fibers in each ply. The plies are curved longitudinally to approximately correspond to the curve of the body. In one embodiment, there are longitudinally oriented fiber plies at or near the surfaces of the device and plies with fibers offset at 5.degree.-40.degree. from the longitudinal axis between the surface layers. The fiber orientation is balanced by providing a ply of negatively angled offset fibers of a similar angle for each positively angled offset ply. The device is made by molding plies preimpregnated with polymer (prepregs) simultaneously, by molding a plurality of prepregs into segments which are then molded together, or by molding a segment and incrementally molding additional layers of prepregs thereto in a series of progressively larger molds.

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Memphis, TN, United States of America

Frederick S Georgette