Smith & Nephew Richards Inc.

Smith + Nephew

Other

Richards Medical Company

Davitech, Inc.

James A Davidson

Ajit K Mishra

Paul Kovacs

Kenneth P Daigle

Richard L Dunn

Danny H Lewis

Neil B Beals

Kenneth L Reifsnider

Thomas W Sander

Frederick S Georgette

Yancy L Gill

Fu-Kuo Chang

Thomas Andrew Carls

Chih-I Lin

Hansen A Yuan

Lee H Tuneberg

Laura C Small

Chris C Pardue

Robert A Poggie

Mark A Hamby

An ankle support for protecting an injured or uninjured ankle which includes lateral support members having a flexion region operable to limit plantar and dorsal flexion to 40 degrees. Lateral support members are connected with lower-leg supports which together act to limit rotation to 15 degrees and medial and lateral bending to 10 degrees. Ankle support is preferably contoured with a low component-profile such that ankle support can be worn within a shoe to provide user with support and stabilization during rigorous activity. Adjustable straps are utilized to firmly engage ankle support with user's lower leg which operably reduces or minimizes load to the foot. Ankle support component parts are preferably formed from a low melting temperature thermo-forming polymer, polymer alloy, or composite material which provides the user with an advantageous ankle support and method for maintaining ankle supports fit to the lower leg.

Active ankle support

A break-resistant composite comprising a plurality of fibers at least partially embedded in a polymer matrix forms a composite for making at least a portion of an endodonic instrument. At least a portion of the fibers are selected from a group consisting of partially twisted fibers and off-axis oriented fibers. The composite instrument can contain abrasive particulates to improve cutting and wear resistance for use in root canal procedures. The twisted fiber composite material allows for applied torque load response, improved flexibility within the root canal, and reduces or eliminates gross breakage of the instrument during use. The inventive composite can be molded or machined to make an endodnic instrument having certain desired diameters, tapers, helical recesses, and other design features.

Break-resistant composite endodontic instrument

The present invention is a medical implant or device fabricated, in any manner, from a niobium (Nb)&mdash;titanium (Ti)&mdash;zirconium (Zr)&mdash;Molybdenum (Mo) alloy (NbTiZrMo alloy). The implant or device has components at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy comprising a) between about 29 and 70 weight percent Nb; b) between about 10 and 46 weight percent Zr; c) between about 3 and 15 weight percent Mo; and a balance of titanium. The inventive alloy provides for a uniform beta structure which is corrosion resistant, and can be readily processed to develop high-strength and low-modulus, with the ability for conversion oxidation or nitridization surface hardening of the medical implant or device.

Niobium-titanium-zirconium-molybdenum (nbtizrmo) alloys for dental and other medical device applications

This invention describes a corrosion-resistant, high-strength, low-modulus, titanium based alloy having about 5-11 weight percent Mo and about 6-15 weight percent Hf. This alloy is suitable for use in the fabrication of articles for medical and non-medical applications having low modulus, improved corrosion resistance and surface hardening. To increase strength, Cr, Si and Fe can be added in small amounts as well as increasing levels of interstitial oxygen, nitrogen or carbon. To maintain low elastic modulus, Mo can be partially substituted by Nb.

Titanium molybdenum hafnium alloy

A flexible, isoelastic polymer surgical suture and suture construct formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polyurethane copolymers, rubber, and other hemocompatible and biocompatible thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the suture and suture construct is formed from a single or multiple filament, the suture and suture construct having an elastic modulus between about 50 to 2000 psi, a tensile strength between about 500 to 50,000 psi, and a tensile elongation between about 100 to 1000 percent. In an alternate suture construct, the construct includes a base material and an inner core formed from a higher-strength fiber or group of fibers having a helical orientation. The low-modulus base material is selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polyurethane copolymers, rubber, and other hemocompatible and biocompatible thermoplastic elastomers. In an alternate suture construct, the construct includes a base material and an inner core formed from a higher-strength fiber or group of fibers having a helical orientation. The inner core has an elastic modulus above about 2,000 psi, a tensile strength above about 10,000 psi, and a tensile elongation between about 1 to 80 percent.

Isoelastic suture material and device

This invention describes a biocompatible, radiopaque, high-strength, low-modulus, titanium based alloy having about 2-30 weight percent Mo and up to about 30 weight percent Hf. This alloy is suitable for use in the fabrication of medical implants and devices having low modulus, improved corrosion resistance and surface hardening. To increase strength, Cr, Si and Fe can be added in small amounts as well as increasing levels of interstitial oxygen, nitrogen or carbon. To maintain low elastic modulus, Mo can be partially substituted by Nb.

Titanium molybdenum hafnium alloys for medical implants and devices

Many medical implants have roughened surfaces that promote cell, bone or tissue adhesion as well as the adhesion of bone cement, for better affixing of the implants in the body. The roughened surfaces should be free of particulates, such as commonly arise from the blasting of implant surfaces with particulates to produce a desired surface finish. A method of producing implants with implant surfaces free of such particulates is to blast the implant surface with a biocompatible liquid, such as water, under high pressure. Under certain circumstances, a solvent may contain particulates that assist in producing the roughened surface, and the particulates are dissolved, sublimated or vaporized from the implant surface, leaving no particulate residue.

Methods for producing medical implants with roughened, particulate-free

Cardiovascular and other medical implants fabricated from low-modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The cardiovascular implants may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. The cardiovascular implants include heart valves, total artificial heart implants, ventricular assist devices, vascular grafts, stents, electrical signal carrying devices such as pacemaker and neurological leads, defibrillator leads, and the like. It is contemplated that the Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any cardiovascular implant that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.

Cardiovascular implants of enhanced biocompatibility

Cardiovascular and other medical implants fabricated from low-modulus Ti-Nb-Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The cardiovascular implants may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. The cardiovascular implants include heart valves, total artificial heart implants, ventricular assist devices, vascular grafts, stents, electrical signal carrying devices such as pacemaker and neurological leads, defibrillator leads, and the like. It is contemplated that the Ti-Nb-Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any cardiovascular implant that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.

Stents of enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility

Flexible, biocompatible, metal alloy catheter

Medical leads fabricated from low-modulus Ti-Nb-Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The medical leads may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. It is contemplated that the Ti-Nb-Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any portion of a medical lead that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.

An artificial spinal disc for surgical placement between adjacent vertebrae including a first component for attaching to a first vertebrae, the first component having a concave recess, with the concave contoured surface having a circumference of 360.degree.. A second component for attaching to a second vertebrae, the second component including a projection with a convex surface, the convex contoured surface having a circumference of 360.degree.. The corresponding contoured surfaces shaped to allow an unrestricted rotational and a flexion/extension bending motion between the first and second components relative to a patient's normal spinal axis when in a standing position with the spine in a straightened position.

Low wear artificial spinal disc

Ventricular assist devices fabricated from low-modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The ventricular assist devices may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. It is contemplated that the Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any portion of a ventricular assist device that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.

Growing community of inventors

Germantown, TN, United States of America

James A Davidson