Abstract: The forging-reinforced composite constructed of a plurality of different kinds of materials, which have compatible polymers comprising crystalline and glass phases at room temperature for the matrices, is a composite, wherein, by being forged in a layer-separated state in which each of the different kinds of materials forms micron-sized fibrous layers that crossed and intermingled three-dimensionally with each other and the arrangement of the crystals in the crystalline phases configuring the matrices having a disordered orientation without anisotropy in a variety of directions, the inherent-properties of the material of each layer are complementarily reinforced. A mixed nonwoven fabric wherein microfibers are crossed and intermingled two- or three-dimensionally with each other is manufactured and heated under pressure at or above the melting point of the polymers to manufacture compact blocks wherein the microfibers are welded. Then, the compact blocks are forged at a crystallization temperature.

Abstract: The artificial intervertebral disc of the present invention includes: a structured fabric having biomimetic structure and dynamic behavior, the structure comprising organic fibers, which are formed to be a cubic multi-axial three-dimensional fabric having tri-axial, to be interwoven tissues or to be a complex tissue of these; and tappets mounted on the upper surface and the lower surface of this structured fabric, wherein the tappets are connected and fitted with the connecting filaments vertically penetrating through the structured fabric. This structured fabric shows biomimetic dynamic behavior like a real intervertebral disc and achieves a clinically effective and reliable stand-alone type of biomimetic artificial intervertebral disc which can be inserted and fixed with minimally-invasive operation.

Abstract: The forging-reinforced composite constructed of a plurality of different kinds of materials, which have compatible polymers comprising crystalline and glass phases at room temperature for the matrices, is a composite, wherein, by being forged in a layer-separated state in which each of the different kinds of materials forms micron-sized fibrous layers that crossed and intermingled three-dimensionally with each other and the arrangement of the crystals in the crystalline phases configuring the matrices having a disordered orientation without anisotropy in a variety of directions, the inherent-properties of the material of each layer are complementarily reinforced. A mixed nonwoven fabric wherein microfibers are crossed and intermingled two- or three-dimensionally with each other is manufactured and heated under pressure at or above the melting point of the polymers to manufacture compact blocks wherein the microfibers are welded. Then, the compact blocks are forged at a crystallization temperature.

Abstract: The artificial intervertebral disc of the present invention includes: a structured fabric having biomimetic structure and dynamic behavior, the structure comprising organic fibers, which are formed to be a cubic multi-axial three-dimensional fabric having tri-axial, to be interwoven tissues or to be a complex tissue of these; and tappets mounted on the upper surface and the lower surface of this structured fabric, wherein the tappets are connected and fitted with the connecting filaments vertically penetrating through the structured fabric. This structured fabric shows biomimetic dynamic behavior like a real intervertebral disc and achieves a clinically effective and reliable stand-alone type of biomimetic artificial intervertebral disc which can be inserted and fixed with minimally-invasive operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implant material comprising an organic-inorganic complex porous article and a production method thereof. The organic-inorganic complex porous article is a biodegradable and bioabsorbable bioactive porous article in which a bioactive bioceramics powder is uniformly dispersed in a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer, wherein it has continuous pores and the bioceramics powder is partly exposed to the pore inner surface or the pore inner surface and the porous article surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implant material comprising an organic-inorganic complex porous article and a production method thereof. The organic-inorganic complex porous article is a biodegradable and bioabsorbable bioactive porous article in which a bioactive bioceramics powder is uniformly dispersed in a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer, wherein it has continuous pores and the bioceramics powder is partly exposed to the pore inner surface or the pore inner surface and the porous article surface.

Abstract: A biomaterial for an artificial cartilage is disclosed. The biomaterial eliminates the risk of possible adverse effects due to scattering of fragments of the biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymers and shows enhanced adhesiveness which allows more solid adhesion of the artificial cartilage to vertebral bodies and the like. The biomaterial includes an organized structure comprising organic fibers arranged in one of a multiaxial three-dimensional woven or knitted structure having three or more axes and a combined structure of the woven structure and the knitted structure; and a biodegradable and bioabsorbable pin provided inside the organized structure.

Abstract: A composite porous object which comprises a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer containing bioactive bioceramic particles dispersed therein, the composite porous object having in inner parts thereof large voids 1 having a void diameter of 40-600 ?m and small voids 2 having a void diameter of 1 ?m or smaller, at least part of the large voids 1 and at least part of the small voids 2 constituting interconnected voids. The small voids 2 are formed in the biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer walls 3 which surround the large voids 1 and in the surface of the walls 3. It is preferred that 40% or more of all voids constitute interconnected voids. The walls 3 surrounding the large voids 1 in the composite porous object are progressively replaced by bone tissues conducting from the surface of the walls (internal surface of the large voids 1) to inner parts of the walls and by bone tissues conducting from the internal surface of the small voids 2 in the walls 3 toward surrounding parts.

Abstract: A gel for an ultrasonic phantom is provided which has satisfactory ultrasonic characteristics, does not fluctuate in ultrasonic characteristics over long, and is free from germ multiplication, alteration, putrefaction, etc. The gel is a gel for ultrasonic phantoms which comprises: a segmented polyurethane gel having alkylene oxide segments which are mostly or wholly liquid at ordinary temperature; and a nonvolatile organic gel-swelling medium not participating in a urethane-forming reaction, the medium being contained in the segmented polyurethane gel. Due to the nonvolatile organic gel-swelling medium, the liquid segments and the like are kept in an extended state and the distance between the segments is increased. The gel hence has satisfactory ultrasonic characteristics concerning ultrasonic attenuation rate, propagation velocity, etc. The gel does not change in swelling-medium content with time and hence retains the satisfactory ultrasonic characteristics over long.

Abstract: An implant composite material is provided which is for use in the treatment of articular cartilage disorders such as hip joint femur head necrosis and knee joint bone head necrosis, the reconstruction/fixing of a bio-derived or artificial ligament or tendon, the uniting/fixing of a bone, etc. Part of the implant composite material is replaced by bone tissues in an early stage to enable the material to stably bond with a living bone, while the other part retains a necessary strength over a necessary time period. Finally, the implant composite material is wholly replaced by the living bone and disappears. It is an implant composite material having a constitution which comprises a compact composite of a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer containing bioabsorbable and bioactive bioceramic particles and a porous composite of a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer containing bioabsorbable and bioactive bioceramic particles, the porous composite being united with the compact composite.

Abstract: Subjects are to provide a stand-alone artificial intervertebral disk which has flexible, nearly ideal, mechanical deformation properties and durability and is capable of being bonded and fixed to vertebral bodies at a high force and to provide an artificial-intervertebral-disk insertion jig with which the artificial intervertebral disk can be easily inserted and disposed between vertebrae without fail. The artificial intervertebral disk has a constitution comprising: a core material comprising a structure which is either a multiaxis three-dimensional woven structure or knit structure made of organic fibers arranged along three or more axes or a structure comprising a combination of the woven structure and the knit structure; and plates superposed respectively on the upper and lower sides of the core material, the plates being made of a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer containing bioactive bioceramic particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cosmetic patch which can contain therein either one of a water soluble vitamin and a fat soluble vitamin, particularly when the vitamin is vitamin C, can contain and retain vitamin C stably while avoiding its deterioration due to oxidation or hydrolysis and not causing deterioration of the gel, and is equipped with a desired level of adhesive force; a using method of a cosmetic patch capable of effectively transferring vitamin C into the skin from the cosmetic patch; and a cosmetic patch package for storing the cosmetic patch therein. The present invention relates to a cosmetic patch obtained by incorporating a vitamin in an adhesive polyurethane gel which has hydrophilic alkylene oxide segments and hydrophobic alkylene oxide segments and has most or all of these segments in liquid form at normal temperature.

Abstract: A biomedical material for artificial cartilage is provided which employs a core material comprising a structure made of organic fibers, is flexible and has nearly ideal deformation properties, can be bonded and fixed to living-body bones such as vertebral bodies without fail at a high force, and is free from the generation of fine particles caused by wearing. The biomedical material for artificial cartilage comprises a core material comprising a structure which is either a three-dimensional woven structure or knit structure made of organic fibers arranged along three or more axes or a structure comprising a combination of the woven structure and the knit structure and plates superposed respectively on the upper and lower sides of the core material, the plates being made of a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer containing bioactive bioceramic particles.

Abstract: A process for producing a biodegradable and bioabsorbable implant material, which comprises forging a billet comprising and biodegradable and bioabsorbable crystalline polymer at a low temperature and then forging the same once more or in a plurality of times at a low temperature by changing its press-forcing direction.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an implant material comprising a bioactive and degradable and absorbable organic-inorganic complex porous article and a production method thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a biodegradable and bioabsorbable implant material having a high mechanical strength wherein its shape after deformation within ordinary temperature range can be fixed and maintained so that its shape can be easily adjusted at the site of operation, and it has substantially no anisotropy in view of strength so that it does not cause whitening, breakage and sharp decrease in strength when its bending deformation is repeated in any direction and it has toughness.

Abstract: This invention provides a biodegradable and bioabsorbable implant material having a high mechanical strength wherein its shape after deformation within ordinary temperature range can be fixed and maintained so that its shape can be easily adjusted at the site of operation, and it has substantially no anisotropy in view of strength so that it does not cause whitening, breakage and sharp decrease in strength when its bending deformation is repeated in any direction and it has toughness.

Abstract: This invention provides a claycy and sticky substance as a new biomaterial that cannot be found in the current medical field, which is bioresorbable, shows tackiness, plasticity and shape holding ability at a temperature of approximately from 30 to 40° C. and can give unrestricted shapes at body temperature or more by increasing its fluidity. This clayey and sticky substance comprises a copolymer of two or more bioresorbable monomers, preferably any one of copolymers of p-dioxanone with D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, D,L-lactic acid, trimethylene carbonate and &egr;-caprolactone, or a mixture of two or more of these copolymers. This clayey and sticky or clayey substance is suited for a hemostatic material, an adhesive material for tissues, a prosthetic material for tissue reconstruction use, a carrier of drug delivery system, a plugging material, an accretion-preventing material and a scaffold material for tissue engineering use.

Abstract: Shape-memory biodegradable and absorbable materials which make it possible to easily treat vital tissues by suture, anastomosis, ligation, fixation, reconstitution, prosthesis, etc. without causing burn. These materials never induce halation in MRI or CT and never remain in vivo. Such a shape-memory biodegradable and absorbable material is a material made of a molded article of lactic acid-based polymer and can be recovered to the original shape without applying any external force thereto but heating to a definite temperature or above. It is obtained by deforming a molded article (a primary molded article) made of a lactic acid-based polymer and having a definite shape into another molded article (a secondary molded article) having another shape at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature thereof but lower than the crystallization temperature thereof (or 100° C.

Abstract: A high bending strength and high density material for osteosynthesis, which comprises a biodegradable and bioabsorbable crystalline thermoplastic polymer material, and a high strength implant material, comprising a composite material in which a bioceramics powder of from 0.2 to 50 .mu.m in particle size is dispersed in the polymer material, wherein crystals of the polymer material are pressure-oriented not in a uni-axial direction but basically in parallel with a plurality of reference axes; and a production method by pressure orientation, which comprises preparing in advance a biodegradable and bioabsorbable crystalline thermoplastic polymer material or a dispersed mixture of the polymer material and a bioceramics powder and melt-molding it into a pre-molded material which is then press-charged at a cold temperature into a cavity of a closed type forming mold, thereby obtaining an oriented molding.