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:
Oct. 12, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 31, 2006
Craig Ernsberger, Granger, IN (US);
Yen-shuo Liao, Warsaw, IN (US);
Lawrence Salvati, Goshen, IN (US);
Craig Ernsberger, Granger, IN (US);
Yen-Shuo Liao, Warsaw, IN (US);
Lawrence Salvati, Goshen, IN (US);
Depuy Products, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is a bearing material of a medical implant comprising a polymer such as UHMWPE and a surface active agent that is not covalently bonded to the polymer. The bearing material has a reduced wear rate. Also disclosed is a method of reducing the wear rate of a polymeric bearing material of a medical implant when it articulates against a hard counterface in the presence of synovial fluid, the method comprising providing a surface active agent in the synovial fluid in close proximity to the bearing surface, the hard counterface, or both.