Abstract: The inventions provide methods of manufacturing peroxide cross-linked and high temperature melted polymeric material, for example ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) containing vitamin E, total joint implants with high wear resistance, high oxidation resistance, and very low concentration of residual by-products, as well as products made thereby.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making wear and oxidation resistant polymeric materials by high temperature melting. The invention also provides methods of making medical implants containing cross-linked antioxidant-containing tough and ductile polymers and materials used therewith also are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating a stability of a joint within the foot and ankle complex of a subject. The subject is instructed to assume a position in which the joint is bearing weight, and a three-dimensional medical image of the joint comprising a sequence of two-dimensional image slices is captured at a scanner. The sequence of two-dimensional image slices is provided to a predictive model, comprising an artificial neural network having at least one convolutional layer. A clinical parameter representing the stability of the joint at the predictive model is determined from at least the sequence of two-dimensional image slices.

Abstract: The invention related to therapeutic polymeric materials and medical implants containing additives and/or analgesic agents. The invention also relates to methods of making therapeutic polymeric materials and medical implants containing additives and/or analgesic agents. Methods of spatially controlling additive concentrations and release as well as polymeric material morphology are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a clinical parameter via evaluation of sequential medical images. A sequence of at least three medical images for a patient are captured at a scanner. A set of at least two difference images are generated from the sequence of at least three medical images. Each difference image represents a difference in content between two adjacent images in the sequence of at least three medical images. The set of at least two difference images are provided to a predictive model. The predictive model includes an artificial neural network having at least one convolutional layer. A clinical parameter for the patient is determined at the predictive model from at least the set of at least two difference images.

Abstract: Methods of making consolidated blend(s) of polymeric material(s) with one or more therapeutic agents (such as an antibiotic) are provided, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a polymeric material, blending the polymeric material with one or more therapeutic agent(s), pelletizing the blended polymeric material, environmentally treating by various approaches the pelletized polymeric material, and consolidating the environmentally treated pellet. Products made by the methods and uses of the products also are provided.

Abstract: Methods of making crosslinked polymeric materials and crosslinked interlocked hybrid polymeric materials using photoinitiator, antioxidant, additive, and photoirradiation of polymeric blend and/or interlocked hybrid materials are provided. Methods of spatially controlling macroscopic properties and morphology of polymeric materials, and products made by the methods also are provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of making degradable, additive-blended polymeric materials using microwave radiation and catalysts. The methods can include incorporation of therapeutic materials into the polymeric materials. There also are provided polymeric materials made by the methods and medical devices comprising the polymeric materials made by the methods.

Abstract: The inventions provide methods of manufacturing peroxide cross-linked and high temperature melted polymeric material, for example ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) containing vitamin E, total joint implants with high wear resistance, high oxidation resistance, and very low concentration of residual by-products, as well as products made thereby.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for making and using antibacterial polymeric materials loaded with additives, as well as antibacterial materials comprising additives. Certain additives or combinations of additives show unexpected combinatorial or synergistic antibacterial activity. The invention also provides medical devices comprised of antibacterial polymeric materials, and methods of making and using such devices, which can have unexpected combinatorial or synergistic antibacterial activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making wear and oxidation resistant polymeric materials by high temperature melting. The invention also provides methods of making medical implants containing cross-linked antioxidant-containing tough and ductile polymers and materials used therewith also are provided.

Abstract: This present invention relates to drug eluting polymers, including novel biodegradable drug eluting polymers, which are added to the surface of a medical device to treat device associated complications and to deliver drug locally around the device. Methods of making polymers, for example, drug-eluting polymers, polymer compositions, and materials used therewith also are provided. The drug eluting polymers are obtained from the polymerization of macromonomers made of a connecting moiety, a biodegradable moiety and a cross-linkable moiety that are liquids at a temperature of 10° C. to 40° C.

Abstract: Methods of making oxidation and wear resistant polymeric materials using peroxide cross-linking and high temperature melting process are disclosed. A multiple step procedure for enabling the manufacturing of such material without size limitations is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making wear and oxidation resistant polymeric materials by high temperature melting. The invention also provides methods of making medical implants containing cross-linked antioxidant-containing tough and ductile polymers and materials used therewith also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making oxidation resistant medical devices that comprise polymeric materials, for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The invention also provides methods of making antioxidant-doped medical implants, for example, doping of medical devices containing cross-linked UHMWPE with vitamin E by diffusion and materials used therein.

Abstract: The invention provides creep resistant, lubricious and tough PVA-PAAm-hydrogels, creep resistant, lubricious, tough PVA-PAAm-hydrogel-containing compositions, and methods of making the same. The invention also provides methods of implanting or administering the creep resistant, lubricious and tough PVA-PAAm-hydrogels, or the PVA-PAAm-hydrogel-containing compositions to treat a subject in need. Methods of cross-linking pre-solidified or pre-gelled hydrogel particles and making cross-linked PVA-PAAm-hydrogels, and cross-linked PVA-PAAm-hydrogel-containing compositions also are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods of making oxidation and wear resistant polymeric materials using peroxide cross-linking and high temperature melting process are disclosed. A multiple step procedure for enabling the manufacturing of such material without size limitations is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing at least one component of a joint prosthesis, the method comprising creating a first database representing an anatomy of an articulating bone of a joint of a subject; accessing a second database representing a geometry of a generic prosthetic component being sized to fit around an outer articulating surface of the articulating bone of the joint of the subject; creating a third database representing kinematic data of the subject's joint; merging the databases within a three-dimensional image-based medium. The generic prosthetic component is attached to the outer articulating surface of the articulating bone of the joint creating a prosthetic articulating surface that is moved through the kinematic data of the subject through a bearing template thereby modifying the bearing template to create a kinematically appropriate bearing surface; and manufacturing the component of the joint prosthesis to have a geometry corresponding to the kinematically appropriate bearing surface.

Abstract: The invention related to therapeutic polymeric materials and medical implants containing additives and/or analgesic agents. The invention also relates to methods of making therapeutic polymeric materials and medical implants containing additives and/or analgesic agents. Methods of spatially controlling additive concentrations and release as well as polymeric material morphology are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making wear and oxidation resistant polymeric materials by high temperature melting. The invention also provides methods of making medical implants containing cross-linked antioxidant-containing tough and ductile polymers and materials used therewith also are provided.