The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 16, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1996
Jack C Roberts, Columbia, MD (US);
Paul J Biermann, Columbia, MD (US);
Amy A Corvelli, Columbia, MD (US);
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for partially embedding a biocompatible material, such as a titanium coil, in the surface of a polymer bone implant to provide a porous coating for bone cells to grow through thereby promoting long term stabilization of the implant. In one embodiment, the coil is wrapped around the implant and placed in a manifold where rollers biased by springs press against the coil. The coil-implant is rotated and heated by a hot gas stream, the rollers-springs pushing the coil into the surface of the implant. In a second embodiment, the coil is compressed and placed onto a needle wire which is placed against the surface of the implant. The point of contact is heated and the implant is rotated with the needle wire creating a channel in the softened polymer and feeding the coil, which is simultaneously stretched, therein. The needle wire then pulls the polymer over a portion of the coil as it passes. In a third embodiment, the coil is wrapped around the implant with an optional titanium foil then wrapped around the coil-implant. A ceramic clamp comprising at least two ceramic parts is placed around the foil(if used)-coil-implant and held in place by a nonconductive, elastic material. The coil-implant is then inductively heated with the coil being pushed into the softened surface of the implant by the pressure applied by the ceramic parts being compressed together by the elastic material. Alternatively, the titanium coil may be wrapped around the implant in sufficient tension that it will embed itself when inductively heated, without using the ceramic clamp and elastic material to apply pressure.