Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing a calcium phosphate cement or filler which hardens in a temperature dependent fashion in association with an endothermic reaction. In the reaction a limited amount of water is mixed with dry calcium phosphate precursors to produce a hydrated precursor paste. Hardening of the paste occurs rapidly at body temperature an is accompanied by the conversion of one or more of the reactants to poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate. The hardened cements, fillers, growth matrices, orthopedic and delivery devices of the invention are rapidly resorbable and stimulate hard tissue growth and healing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthetic, poorly crystalline apatite (PCA) calcium phosphate containing a biologically active agent and/or cells (preferably tissue-forming or tissue-degrading cells). The compositions provided by the present invention are useful for a variety of in vivo and in vitro applications, including drug delivery (for example, to bony sites, the central nervous system, intramuscular sites, subcutaneous sites, interperitoneal sites, and occular sites) tissue growth (preferably bone or cartilage) osseous augmentation, and methods of diagnosing disease states by assaying tissue forming potential of cells isolated from a host. The invention also provides methods of preparing delivery vehicles, of altering delivery vehicle characteristics, and of delivering biologically active agents to a site. The invention further provides in vitro cell culture systems and cell encapsulation materials. The invention is useful for both medical and veterinary applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing a calcium phosphate cement or filler which hardens in a temperature dependent fashion in association with an endothermic reaction. In the reaction a limited amount of water is mixed with dry calcium phosphate precursors to produce a hydrated precursor paste. Hardening of the paste occurs rapidly at body temperature and is accompanied by the conversion of one or more of the reactants to poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate. The hardened cements, fillers, growth matrices, orthopedic and delivery devices of the invention are rapidly resorbable and stimulate hard tissue growth and healing. A composite material is provided including a strongly bioresorbable, poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate composite and a supplementary material. The supplementary material is in intimate contact with the hydroxyapatite material in an amount effective to impart a selected characteristic to the composite.

Abstract: The present invention provides machinable calcium phosphate bone substitute material implants having mechanical properties comparable to those of natural bone. The implants include intimately mixed solid precursor materials that react under physiological conditions to form poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatite and eventually are remodeled into bone in vivo. The implants can include a biocompatible polymer to increase density and strength and control resorbability.

Abstract: Demineralized bone matrix fibers and a demineralized bone matrix composition are provided. The demineralized bone matrix fibers have an average fiber length in the range from about 250 &mgr;m to about 2 mm and an aspect ratio of greater than about 4. The demineralized bone matrix composition includes demineralized bone matrix fibers and a biocompatible liquid in an amount to produce a coherent, formable mass. The formable mass retains its cohesiveness when immersed in a liquid. Methods for making the demineralized bone matrix fibers and composition are also provided.

Abstract: A malleable implant for implantation into living tissue is prepared having access means for cells into the interior of the implant. The implant is capable of being deformed under pressure required to insert the implant into an implant site. The access means can be hollow or solid. The solid comprises a material that more rapidly resorbs in vivo than the malleable implant to provide channels, or comprises a mechanically weak material that fractures under force at an implant site to produce channels or cracks. The access means may be inserted in the malleable implant at an implant site. A multilaminar structure may be formed having layers of malleable implant and layers of access means, or the access means may be heterogeneously distributed throughout the malleable implant. A kit can contain a powder such as calcium phosphate for making a paste implant material, and an access means insertable into the paste.

Abstract: The present invention provides machinable calcium phosphate bone substitute material implants having mechanical properties comparable to those of natural bone. The implants include intimately mixed solid precursor materials that react under physiological conditions to form poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatite and eventually are remodeled into bone in vivo. The implants can include a biocompatible polymer to increase density and strength and control resorbability.

Abstract: A low crystallinity calcium phosphate powder is prepared by mechanically grinding a calcium phosphate solid under grinding forces local heating sufficient to mechanically alloy the calcium phosphate solid and reduce the crystalline domains of the calcium phosphate solid to less than about 100 nm. The method is useful for making any calcium phosphate material by solid-solid mixing and high energy grinding.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a porous titanium surface suitable for medical implants is provided. The titanium surface is exposed to a plasma comprising a reactive plasma gas, the reactive plasma gas comprising an active etching species and a sputtering gas. The plasma conditions are effective to modify the titanium surface and provide surface porosity. The plasma conditions are effective to non-uniformly etch and sputter the titanium surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthetic, poorly-crystalline apatitic (PCA) calcium phosphate material seeded with cells. Preferably, the cells are tissue-forming or tissue-degrading cells. The compositions provided by the present invention are useful for a variety of applications, including in vivo and in vitro tissue growth (preferably bone or cartilage), osseous augmentation, and methods of diagnosing disease states by assaying tissue-forming potential of cells isolated from a host. The invention also provides in vitro cell culture systems and cell encapsulation matrices.

Abstract: The present invention provides delivery vehicles comprising a synthetic, poorly crystalline apatite (PCA) calcium phosphate and a biologically active agent. The PCA calcium phosphate offers many advantages over known delivery materials and is particularly useful for delivery of agents to bone sites, the central nervous system, intramuscular sites, subcutaneous sites, interperitoneal sites, and occular sites. The invention also provides methods of preparing delivery vehicles, of altering delivery vehicle characteristics, and of delivering biologically active agents to a site. The invention is useful for both medical and veterinary applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing a calcium phosphate cement or filler which hardens in a temperature dependent fashion in association with an endothermic reaction. In the reaction a limited amount of water is mixed with dry calcium phosphate precursors to produce a hydrated precursor paste. Hardening of the paste occurs rapidly at body temperature an is accompanied by the conversion of one or more of the reactants to poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate. The hardened cements, fillers, growth matrices, orthopedic and delivery devices of the invention are rapidly resorbable and stimulate hard tissue growth and healing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing a calcium phosphate cement or filler which hardens in a temperature dependent fashion in association with an endothermic reaction. In the reaction a limited amount of water is mixed with dry calcium phosphate precursors to produce a hydrated precursor paste. Hardening of the paste occurs rapidly at body temperature an is accompanied by the conversion of one or more of the reactants to poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate. The hardened cements, fillers, growth matrices, orthopedic and delivery devices of the invention are rapidly resorbable and stimulate hard tissue growth and healing.

Abstract: An irregularly etched metallic medical implant device is provided having random non-uniform relief patterns on the surface ranging from about 0.3 &mgr;m to less than about 20 &mgr;m in depth. The random, irregular surface as defined by the etch micromorphology and respective dimensional properties is sobtained by exposing a surface to a reactive plasma in a chamber wherein said reactive plasma produces a reaction product with the surface to thereby etch the surface, said reaction product or a complex thereof having a vapor pressure lower than a pressure in the chamber; providing a dynamic masking agent during the etching process; and removing the reaction products.

Abstract: A composite material is provided including a strongly bioresorbable, poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate composite and a supplementary material. The poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate is characterized in that, when placed in an intramuscular or subcutaneous site, resorption of at least 1 g of the material is complete within one year. The supplementary material is in intimate contact with the hydroxyapatite material in an amount effective to impart a selected characteristic to the composite. The supplemental material may be biocompatible, bioresorbable or non-resorbable.

Abstract: A method for treating a bone defect is provided by identifying a bone site suitable for receiving an implant; and introducing a strongly resorbable, poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate at the implant site, whereby bone is formed at the implant site. A bone defect may be treated by identifying a bone site suitable for receiving an implant; and introducing a hydrated precursor to a strongly resorbable, poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate at the implant site, whereby the hydrated precursor is converted in vivo to a poorly crystalline apatitic calcium phosphate and whereby bone is formed at the implant site. The implant site may be a variety of sites, such as a tooth socket, non-union bone, bone prosthesis, an osteoporatic bone, an intervertebral space, an alveolar ridge or a bone fracture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthetic, poorly-crystalline apatitic (PCA) calcium phosphate material seeded with cells. Preferably, the cells are tissue-forming or tissue-degrading cells. The compositions provided by the present invention are useful for a variety of applications, including in vivo and in vitro tissue growth (preferably bone or cartilage), osseous augmentation, and methods of diagnosing disease states by assaying tissue-forming potential of cells isolated from a host. The invention also provides in vitro cell culture systems and cell encapsulation matrices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for converting a standard inert amorphous calcium phosphate precipitate into highly reactive amorphous solids. The amorphous solids can be used to react with other calcium phosphate solids to form a poorly-crystalline synthetic hydroxyapatite that provides both bioactivity and structural integrity. This novel amorphous material can be reacted with other calcium phosphates at or below 37° C. to form a bone-like material consisting of poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthetic, poorly-crystalline apatitic (PCA) calcium phosphate material seeded with cells. Preferably, the cells are tissue-forming or tissue-degrading cells. The compositions provided by the present invention are useful for a variety of applications, including in vivo and in vitro tissue growth (preferably bone or cartilage), osseous augmentation, and methods of diagnosing disease states by assaying tissue-forming potential of cells isolated from a host. The invention also provides in vitro cell culture systems and cell encapsulation matrices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthetic, poorly-crystalline apatitic (PCA) calcium phosphate material seeded with cells. Preferably, the cells are tissue-forming or tissue-degrading cells. The compositions provided by the present invention are useful for a variety of applications, including in vivo and in vitro tissue growth (preferably bone or cartilage), osseous augmentation, and methods of diagnosing disease states by assaying tissue-forming potential of cells isolated from a host. The invention also provides in vitro cell culture systems and cell encapsulation matrices.