W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Norman J Sharber

Karl E Schwarz

Thane L Kranzler

Kenneth W Moll

Clayton M Sparling

A carvable implant material for use in surgery and especially in plastic and reconstructive surgery. At least two layers of porous PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) sheet material are laminated together by an adhesive placed between the adjacent layers of porous PTFE sheet material. Alternatively, a plurality of discrete pieces of porous PTFE may be adhered together by an adhesive. The presence of the adhesive provides a significant increase in stiffness and hence in carvability beyond that possible in a single layer of porous PTFE without the adhesive. Preferred adhesives are thermoplastic fluoropolymers of lower crystalline melt temperature than PTFE, such as FEP or PFA.

Carvable PTFE implant material

A carvable implant material for use in surgery and especially in plastic and reconstructive surgery is described which comprises porous PTFE having a coating of a stiffening agent intended to stiffen the PTFE in order to render it carvable. This material may thus be carved into a desired shape prior to implantation. The stiffening agent is biodegradable to allow tissue ingrowth to stabilize the location of the implant as the biodegradable stiffening agent is degraded and absorbed by the body.

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Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America

Norman J Sharber