Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ag

Smith + Nephew

Yvo Dirix

Lorenz Brunner

Hans F Schmotzer

Shilesh C Jani

Paul Smith

Theo Tervoort

Roberto Tommasini

Jonathan Sander

Provided are processes comprising crosslinking polyethylene or using crosslinked polyethylene. Furthermore, the processes may include compacting and/or sintering the polyethylene. The polyethylene can comprise virgin ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of at least 1,000,000 g/mol, to provide a compacted composition comprising virgin ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

Processes comprising crosslinking polyethylene or using crosslinked polyethylene

The present invention relates to highly cross-linked UHMWPE, which is possessed of an improved oxidation resistance, as well as a method for making the same. The UHMWPE material of the current invention is combined with an anti-oxidant compound or a free-radical scavenger prior to formation. Once the UHMWPE with the added material has been formed and treated with gamma or electron bean irradiation, it shows an improved wear resistance and also a good resistance to oxidation. Such a material, is particularly interesting for the field of making replacement joint implants.

Oxidation resistant highly-crosslinked UHMWPE

A prosthetic device may comprise an insert having a first surface configured to contact a first prosthetic component and a bearing surface configured to articulate against a second prosthetic component. The insert comprises an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E. The vitamin E may have a concentration in the range of 0.02 to 0.12 wt % first mixed with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and then molded with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at a temperature greater than the melting point of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E may be gamma irradiated with a dosage of radiation between 5 and 20 Mrad. The insert may be machined prior to gamma irradiating the insert in air such that the gamma irradiation, at suitably high dosages, may also sterilize the insert.

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene for bearing surfaces

A substance, which contains anti-inflammatory substances, anti-microbial substances, anti-tumor substances, anti-viral substances, and/or bone stimulating substances, as an additive, can be added to an UHMWPE material for the production of a medical implant for imparting benign body response properties to the medical implant.

UHMWPE medical implant producing wear particles with benign body response

A method for obtaining a composition of at least two components, comprising the steps of: providing at least one first fluid component; providing at least one second solid component and processing it so that the first component can diffuse into the second component; and diffusing the first component into the second component. A composition prepared by such a method.

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Erlenbach, Switzerland

Yvo Dirix