Medical implants with increased hydrophilicity
Inventors
Whang, Peter • Crudden, Joseph • Johns, Derrick W.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9375321-B2
Publication Date
2016-06-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices such as orthopedic implants are composed of a thermoplastic resin such as polyaryletheretherketone (PEEK), and include a ceramic species, such as a zeolite, to enhance its hydrophilic properties. The ceramic species can be a surface coating, can be incorporated or embedded into the thermoplastic resin, or can be both a surface coating and incorporated or embedded into the resin. In certain embodiments, the ceramic species is zeolite that is incorporated into the device, especially at the exposed surface of the device, and is devoid of antimicrobial metal ions. The device is introduced into the body surgically.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to medical implants made from thermoplastic resins such as PEEK/PEKK and includes zeolite, an aluminosilicate ceramic devoid of antimicrobial metal ions. Zeolite is introduced as a coating on an exposed surface of the implant, incorporated within the thermoplastic resin, or both.
The disclosed approach uses zeolite to increase hydrophilicity and negative charge to promote protein adsorption on the implant surface. The stated problem addressed is reduction of biofilm formation and improvement of implant performance at the implant surface, including promotion of protein adsorption and cell adhesion relevant to bone formation.
The patent states that increased protein adsorption enables improved osteogenic/fibroblast cell adhesion, including RGD-mediated protein adsorption, and reduces bacterial biofilm formation by disrupting bacterial biofilm integrity. The disclosed implants further retain radio opacity, including X-ray opacity.
The disclosure characterizes zeolite loading and processing, including ranges for zeolite wt% loading and an example blending and compounding approach for zeolite with PEEK followed by processing. The overall implementation is described for orthopedic implants including spinal fusion interbody cages.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides one independent claim. It is directed to initiating bone formation by implanting a device with a thermoplastic resin containing aluminosilicate particles free of antimicrobial metal ions, where the aluminosilicate amount is sufficient to initiate protein adsorption. No additional independent claims are present in the provided claim list.
Initiating bone formation using ion-free aluminosilicate in a thermoplastic resin
A method of initiating bone formation comprising implanting in a patient a device comprising a thermoplastic resin having aluminosilicate particles incorporated therein, wherein the aluminosilicate particles are devoid of antimicrobial metal ions and are present in an amount sufficient to initiate protein adsorption on the implant.
Across the provided independent claim, the inventive concept centers on implanting a thermoplastic-resin device containing aluminosilicate particles that are devoid of antimicrobial metal ions, with the aluminosilicate present in an amount sufficient to initiate protein adsorption on the implant.
Stated Advantages
Initiates protein adsorption on the implant.
Initiates bone formation.
Reduces bacterial biofilm formation by disrupting bacterial biofilm integrity.
Improves adhesion of osteogenic/fibroblast cells, including RGD-mediated protein adsorption.
Retains radio opacity, including X-ray opacity.
Documented Applications
Medical implants for orthopedic and spinal fusion (arthrodesis), including interbody spinal cages.
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