Abstract: Bone repair or augmentation devices comprising a porous body (2) comprising pores (4), the porous body comprising a portion with a reinforcing agent within the pores of that portion of the porous body (8). Methods of making bone augmentation or repair devices are also provided, the devices having a perimeter and an internal region, the method comprising: (a) mixing a biodegradable reinforcing agent with a biomaterial selected from the group comprising ceramic materials and bioactive glasses to form a mixture; (b) heating the mixture to above the softening point of the reinforcing agent; (c) moulding the mixture around at least a portion of the internal region.

Abstract: A process for preparing artificial bone is described which comprises: (i) preparing a mixture of a finely divided bio-compatible ceramic powder, an organic binder and a pore-forming agent in an inert liquid to form a body and causing at least some of the pore-forming agent to align along a common axis; (ii) optionally shaping the resulting body; (iii) allowing the pore-forming agent to form a porous structure in the body; (iv) heating the shaped body to a temperature sufficient to fix the porous structure and; (v) further heating the body to eliminate residues of organic binder and pore-forming agent and to fuse it.