Abstract: The present invention is a method of making a lubricious polyacrylonitrile knee meniscus implant of a predetermined form and the resulting product. The method includes preparing a solution of a room temperature solvent that will dissolve polyacrylonitrile at room temperature and a room temperature non-solvent that will not dissolve polyacrylonitrile at room temperature. The solution is prepared with sufficient non-solvent to render the room temperature solvent inoperable for polyacrylonitrile at room temperature and operable at temperatures above 65° C. to dissolve polyacrylonitrile therein. Next, the polyacrylonitrile and the solution are combined into a mixture, in an amount of at least 20%, by weight, of polyacrylonitrile. The mixture is then heated at temperatures in excess of 65° C. to produce a fluid polyacrylonitrile product, and processed into an artificial joint component mold. Next, the product is cooled and may be rinsed, solvent extracted and dried.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of making a lubricious polyacrylonitrile artificial joint of a predetermined form and the resulting product. The method includes preparing a solution of a room temperature solvent that will dissolve polyacrylonitrile at room temperature and a room temperature non-solvent that will not dissolve polyacrylonitrile at room temperature. The solution is prepared with sufficient non-solvent to render the room temperature solvent inoperable for polyacrylonitrile at room temperature and operable at temperatures above 65° C. to dissolve polyacrylonitrile therein. Next, the polyacrylonitrile and the solution are combined into a mixture, in an amount of at least 20%, by weight, of polyacrylonitrile. The mixture is then heated at temperatures in excess of 65° C. to produce a fluid polyacrylonitrile product, and processed into an artificial joint component mold. Next, the product is cooled and may be rinsed, solvent extracted and dried. It is then treated chemically, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of processing polyacrylonitrile into a predetermined form. The first step in this method includes preparing a solution of a room temperature solvent that will dissolve polyacrylonitrile at room temperature and, a room temperature non-solvent that will not dissolve polyacrylonitrile at room temperature. The solution is prepared with sufficient non-solvent to render the room temperature solvent inoperable such that it will not dissolve polyacrylonitrile at room temperature and such that it will be operable at temperatures above 65° C. to dissolve polyacrylonitrile therein. The second step in the present invention method involves combining polyacrylonitrile with the solution to form a mixture, in an amount of at least 20%, by weight, of polyacrylonitrile, based on the total weight of the mixture. Preferred is about 20% to about 50% by weight of the polyacrylonitrile.