Ferro Corporation

Frederick S Mandel

J Don Wang

Anthony S Scheibelhoffer

Charles D Green

Vladimir Popov

Steven Melvyn Howdle

Orthopedic mixtures are prepared by mixing starting materials and a process medium in a reactor to form a supercritical fluid slurry. The starting materials include a source of calcium ions and a polymer matrix for the calcium ions. The process medium preferably is carbon dioxide which is supplied to the reactor in a supercritical state or which is heated and pressurized in the reactor to attain a supercritical state. After mixing for a period of time, the slurry either is left in the reactor or is discharged into a receiving vessel. The process medium is separated from the other materials and removed, leaving behind a finely divided product. The finely divided product can be poured into a mold and cured. Thereafter, the cured product can be used as a bone implant or a bone implant can be carved from the cured product. Alternatively, if an ultraviolet light-curable catalyst and a monomer are included in the mixture, the finely divided product can be used as bone filler and cured in situ. After curing, the mixture produces a dense, strong, porous product that simulates autogenic bone.

Orthopedic mixtures prepared by supercritical fluid processing techniques

Polymer matrices for use in orthopedic, pharmaceutical, and similar mixtures are prepared by mixing two or more polymers and a process medium in a reactor to form a supercritical fluid slurry. The process medium preferably is carbon dioxide which is supplied to the reactor in a supercritical state or which is heated and pressurized in the reactor to attain a supercritical state. After mixing for a period of time, the slurry either is left in the reactor or is discharged into a receiving vessel. The process medium is separated from the polymers and removed, leaving behind finely divided particles.

Polymer matrices prepared by supercritical fluid processing techniques

Orthopedic parts are manufactured using supercritical fluid processing techniques in which starting materials and a process medium are mixed in a reactor to form a supercritical fluid slurry. The starting materials include a source of calcium ions and a polymer matrix for the calcium ions. The process medium preferably is carbon dioxide which is supplied to the reactor in a supercritical state or which is heated and pressurized in the reactor to attain a supercritical state. A conduit connects the reactor to a mold that has a cavity of a desired shape for an orthopedic part. A flush valve interconnects the bottom of a reactor and the conduit. When the flush valve is opened, the slurry is directed through the conduit into the mold where solidification occurs very rapidly. The resultant product is a strong, porous structure that simulates autogenic

Manufacturing orthopedic parts using supercritical fluid processing techniques

A mixing vessel for a process using supercritical process media, the vessel including an agitator for mixing a batch of materials and a process media in a supercritical state in the vessel to produce a reaction mixture based on a selectable reaction process; and heat transfer system for controlling temperature of the reaction mixture, the heat transfer system comprising a liner that generally conforms to an interior surface geometry of the vessel, with the liner comprising a high thermal conductivity material; the liner comprising an interior heat transfer surface in thermal exchange with the reaction mixture, and a plurality of fluid channels; heat transfer fluid that circulates through the channels and in thermal exchange with the heat transfer surface; and a heat transfer fluid supply exterior the pressure vessel for circulating the heat transfer fluid through the channels.

Mixing system for processes using supercritical fluids

Apparatus for a process using supercritical fluid includes a pressure vessel including an agitator for mixing a batch of materials therein; a source of process media supplied to the pressure vessel in a supercritical state; first delivery devices for introducing into the pressure vessel batch materials that are mixed in the presence of the process media in a supercritical state to produce a reaction mixture based on a selectable reaction process; a receiver vessel; and second delivery devices for controlling transfer of the reaction mixture to the receiver vessel; the source comprising a tank for holding a selectable mass of the process media in a supercritical state and for supplying the process media on demand during the reaction process and during delivery of the reaction mixture to the receiver vessel.

A control system for a process using supercritical fluid includes a reactor vessel including an agitator for mixing a batch of materials therein a source of supercritical fluid supplied to the reactor vessel, means for introducing into the reactor vessel batch material that is mixed in the presence of the supercritical fluid based on a selectable reaction process, process monitoring means for producing signals representative of the reaction in the reactor vessel; and control means for controlling the reaction in the reactor vessel based on said signals and the selected reaction process.

Control system for processes using supercritical fluids

The present invention provides a new and improved method of producing coating materials comprising the steps of providing a first organic material which is solid at room temperature, providing a second organic material which is solid at room temperature and which is substantially different in chemical composition from the first organic material, providing a source of supercritical fluid, providing a first container having a mechanical agitator, providing a second container, introducing the first and second organic materials and the supercritical fluid into the first container and mechanically agitating such materials and the supercritical fluid, and discharging the contents of the first container into the second container so as to collect substantially all of the first and second organic materials in the second vessel, the second container being maintained at a lower pressure than the first container.

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Chagrin Falls, OH, United States of America

Frederick S Mandel