Bone cement composistion containing microencapsulated radiopacifier and method of making same

A radiopaque bone cement used to repair bone or other hard tissues is provided. The bone cement is made from combining a composition containing an acrylic powder and a radiopacifier with a corresponding liquid monomer. Prior to being added to the composition, the radiopacifier is microencapsulated with a bone cement compatible material. When combined with the liquid monomer, the bone cement compatible material dissolves releasing the radiopacifier particles into a bone cement matrix. By being microencapsulated, the radiopacifier is prevented from agglomerating in the cement. Instead, the radiopacifier particles become dispersed throughout the bone cement matrix which not only creates a radiopaque cement but also increases the fatigue life of the cement

Functionalized crystalline polyactones as toughners for thermosetting resins

A crystalline polylactone is produced having reactive acrylate end groups. When incorporated into a thermosetting resin which includes reactive C.dbd.CH.sub.2 sites, the present functionalized polylactone acts as a toughener, greatly increasing the impact resistance of the final cured product. Also disclosed are carboxyl-bearing polylactones as tougheners for epoxy resin systems

Process for phosphonylating the surface of an organic polymeric preform

A process for phosphonylating the surface of an organic polymeric preform and the surface-phosphonylated preforms produced thereby are provided. Organic polymeric preforms made from various polymers including polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyamides, and polyester, and formed into blocks, films, and fibers may have their surfaces phosphonylated in a liquid-phase or gas phase reaction. Liquid phase phosphonylation involves the use of a solvent that does not dissolve the organic polymeric preform but does dissolve a phosphorus halide such as phosphorus trichloride. The solvent chosen must also be nonreactive with the phosphorus halide. Such solvents available for use in the present process include the fully-halogenated liquid solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, and the like. Gas phase phosphonylation involves treating the organic polymeric preform with a gaseous phosphorus halide such as phosphorus trichloride and oxygen. The inventive processes allow for surface phosphonylation of the organic polymeric preform such that up to about 30 percent of the reactive carbon sites in the polymer are phosphonylated. The inventive phosphonylated organic polymers are particularly useful as orthopedic implants because hydroxyapatite-like surfaces which can be subsequently created on the organic implants allow for co-crystallization of hydroxyapatite to form chemically-bound layers between prosthesis and bone tissue

Polymeric prosthesis having a phosphonylated surface

A process for phosphonylating the surface of an organic polymeric preform and the surface-phosphonylated preforms produced thereby are provided. Organic polymeric preforms made from various polymers including polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyamides, and polyester, and formed into blocks, films, and fibers may have their surfaces phosphonylated according to the present inventive process. The process involves the use of a solvent that does not dissolve the organic polymeric preform but does dissolve a phosphorus halide such as phosphorus trichloride. The solvent chosen must also be nonreactive with the phosphorus halide. Such solvents available for use in the present process include the fully-halogenated liquid solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, and the like. The inventive process allows for surface phosphonylation of the organic polymeric preform such that up to about 30 percent, but preferably up to about 20 percent, of the reactive carbon sites in the polymer are phosphonylated. The inventive phosphonylated organic polymers are particularly useful as orthopedic implants because hydroxyapatite-like surfaces which can be subsequently created on the organic implants allow for co-crystallization of hydroxyapatite to form chemically-bound layers between prosthesis and bone tissue

Functionalized crystalline polylactones as tougheners for thermosetting resins

A crystalline polylactone is produced having reactive acrylate end groups. When incorporated into a thermosetting resin which includes reactive C.dbd.CH.sub.2 sites, the present functionalized polylactone acts as a toughener, greatly increasing the impact resistance of the final cured product. Also disclosed are carboxyl-bearing polylactones as tougheners for epoxy resin systems

Degradation of Polymeric Biomaterials

Environmental and processing factors affecting the biostability of medical devices made from traditionally stable polymers, such as isotactic polypropylene (PP) and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) , were analyzed and their undesirable degradation was related to performance of typical medical devices. Among the critical phenomena determining the biological performance of UHMW-PE and PP devices are oxidation during melt-processing and the propensity of the polymer chains to radiolyse and radio-oxidize. Polyesters and their biomedical devices , which can be designed to degrade predictably, are addressed with some focus on the less obvious determinants of performance

Degradation of Polymeric Biomaterials

Environmental and processing factors affecting the biostability of medical devices made from traditionally stable polymers, such as isotactic polypropylene (PP) and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) , were analyzed and their undesirable degradation was related to performance of typical medical devices. Among the critical phenomena determining the biological performance of UHMW-PE and PP devices are oxidation during melt-processing and the propensity of the polymer chains to radiolyse and radio-oxidize. Polyesters and their biomedical devices , which can be designed to degrade predictably, are addressed with some focus on the less obvious determinants of performance

Process of making a bone healing device

The present invention is directed to polymeric bone fixation devices and processes for making the devices. In making the bone fixation devices, a polymeric material having a crystalline portion is deformed by a compressive force along a particular direction which causes molecular chains contained within the polymer to orient. The resulting polymer has increased mechanical properties including increased tensile strength and modulus. The polymeric material used to make the bone fixation device can be a bioabsorbable polymer which, once implanted, is broken down and absorbed by the patient\u27s body, eliminating the need for removal

Molecularly bonded inherently conductive polymers on substrates and shaped articles thereof

Organic inherently conductive polymers, such as those based on polyaniline, polypyrrole and polythiophene, are formed in-situ onto polymeric surfaces that are chemically activated to bond ionically the conductive polymers to the substrates. The polymeric substrate is preferably a preshaped or preformed thermoplastic film, fabric, or tube, although other forms of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers can be used as the substrates for pretreatment using, most preferably, phosphonylation-based processes followed by exposure to an oxidatively polymerizable compound capable of forming an electrically conductive polymer. The resultant conductive surface imparts unique properties to the substrates and allows their use in antistatic clothing, surface conducting films for electronic components and the like, and electromagnetic interference shielding

Molecularly bonded inherently conductive polymers on substrates and shaped articles thereof

Organic inherently conductive polymers, such as those based on polyaniline, polypyrrole and polythiophene, are formed in-situ onto polymeric surfaces that are chemically activated to bond ionically the conductive polymers to the substrates. The polymeric substrate is preferably a preshaped or preformed thermoplastic film, fabric, or tube, although other forms of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers can be used as the substrates for pretreatment using, most preferably, phosphonylation-based processes followed by exposure to an oxidatively polymerizable compound capable of forming an electrically conductive polymer. The resultant conductive surface imparts unique properties to the substrates and allows their use in antistatic clothing, surface conducting films for electronic components and the like, and electromagnetic interference shielding. In an alternative embodiment, metals such as gold or platinum are bonded to the chemically interactive surface of a preshaped thermoplastic or thermoset article