Abstract: The prosthetic mini-condyle is for use with a prosthetic glenoid fossa. The mini-condyle covers an excised natural condyle having a superior cut surface and a lateral cut surface. The mini-condyle has a superior, convexo-planar articular face and an inferior flat face. A shank extends inferiorly from the inferior face and is adapted to become secured to the lateral cut surface. The flat interior face is adapted to abut against the superior cut surface. Preferably, a porous bicompatible coating is bonded to the inferior face of the condyle and to the medial face of the shank.

Abstract: A mechanical heart valve prosthesis has an annular base which defines a passageway for blood flow, and a pair of valve leaflets hingedly mounted within the annular base for regulating direction of the blood flow. The hinge mechanism includes camming indentations or hinge cavities located substantially in the corners of the valve leaflets at least on one side of each leaflet, and a plurality of camming or hinge pins which protrude radially inwardly from the annular base to engage both sides of the leaflets. Each of the hinge cavities is engaged by one hinge pin. During operation, the valve leaflets undergo certain wobbling or walking motion relative to the hinge pins whereby the hinged surfaces are continuously wiped to minimize the possibility for formation of incipient blood clots.

Abstract: A prosthetic ligament assembly includes a nonaugmented prosthetic ligament for permanently replacing a natural ligament spanning first and second body members, such as the femur and tibia, and a bone screw adapted for tensioning the prosthetic ligament during implantation. The prosthetic ligament includes a load bearing member intertwined into a plain braid from a plurality of biocompatible, high strength, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene yarns. Each yarn includes at least fifty fibers and has a tensile strength greater than or equal to about 100,000 psi. The load bearing member has a gage section and a loop at each end thereof for anchoring the load bearing member to the body members. The load bearing member is preloaded to remove slack therefrom. The load bearing member may be used alone or may be formed into a hollow braid having a core disposed within the hollow portion of the braid to permit radiographic visualization of the prosthetic ligament.

Abstract: Method for the formation of hydrophilic layers on the surface of objects made from polymeric esters and/or nitriles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid by means of hydrolysis caused by stron acids at elevated temperature, where the solubility of polymer in warm acid is reduced by addition of a salt which alone does not react with the polymer, advantageously of a salt of the used acid. The thickness of the hydrophilic layer may be controlled by changing the concentration of salt and the survace layer containing hydroxyl groups may be at the same time or subsequently thickened by treatment with a multifunctional primary or secondary alcohol, whereas the alcohol groups may be previosuly, at least in part, esterified with an acid which is weaker than is the acid used for hydrolysis.

Abstract: A prosthetic ligament includes a braided jacket with an unbraided core which is formed with a portion of the fibers of the braided jacket. This portion is isolated from the remaining braided jacket over a predetermined length of the prosthetic ligament.

Abstract: A prosthetic ligament is constructed from a three-dimensional braider. The prosthetic ligament includes an eyelet at a first end and a pigtail at a second end. The pigtail is removed during surgery so that the remaining implantable prosthetic ligament is defined by a continuous three-dimensional braided structure from the eyelet at the femur to the other end at the tibia.

Abstract: A total TMJ replacement system comprises a temporal implant component and a mandibular implant component.The temporal component comprises a thin, rigid plate of Vitallium.RTM. which is contoured to generally conform to and overlay at least the articular eminence and mandibular fossa portions of the glenoid fossa, but not the petro-tympanic fissure. A layer of Silastic.RTM. is securely attached to the superior surface of the plate and is disposed to reside between the plate and the floor of the mandibular fossa to act as both a filler and a means for adjusting the vertical position of the plate relative to the floor of the natural fossa. The plate includes a lateral flange which is screwed to the zygion to hold the plate securely in place.

Abstract: An apparatus for studying tissue ingrowth in an implant under different experimental conditions, in particular in response to locally administered test substances is made of a bio-compatible material, preferably pure titanium, and is implanted in living bone tissue, primarily for animal experimental activities. The apparatus includes an outer portion with a central recess in which an inner portion is inserted. In the assembled state, the two portions form at least two bone ingrowth through channels which are exposed when the inner portion is dismounted, for comparative examination of the bone ingrowth promoting/retarding properties of test substances disposed in at least one of the channels.

Abstract: This invention sets forth an agent for filling bone and tooth defects, for building up bone, for bone-contact layers and for the replacement of bones and the roots of teeth, which contains calcium phosphate apatite having carbonate and alkali portions, all ions being definedly integrated in the crystal lattice; use is optionally made together with additives and/or diluents both tolerated by the body. Furthermore, it sets forth the use of this apatite for filling bone and tooth defects, for building up bone, for bone-contact layers, as a replacement for bones and the roots of teeth and as an implant article consisting completely or partially of this apatite or consisting of a material known for implant articles and being coated completely or partially with a layer of this apatite.

Abstract: An implantable collagen-based material is prepared by (i) pretreating a collagen-based material with a member selected from the group consisting of fluorescein isothiocyanate, picrylsulphonic acid and nitrous acid, in an amount sufficient to render some of the amino acid side chains of the material unable to bind with a cross-linking agent, and (ii) reacting the pretreated collagen-based material with a cross-linking agent whereby at least some of the remaining amino acid side chains are linked together.

Abstract: A representing utensil for use in making an invisibly depicted matter visible again which houses a coloring assistant in its own container is disclosed, wherein the coloring assistant is able to make a colorlessly depicted matter develop color and, after its coloring, do the short-time fading at which time the color is losen of itself in a relatively short time by acting on the depicted matter with the aid of a coloring agent, and further is able to make the depicted matter do repeat the recoloring and the short-time fading each time when the coloring assistant acts on the depicted matter a plural number of times.

Abstract: A defect is provided in cartilage or bone, or both, to excise damaged or pathological tissue, and it is filled with an implant having capability for complete regeneration of the skeletal tissue as a chondrogenic or osteogenic phenotype. The implant comprises cells expressing a chondrocyte phenotype (80.times.10.sup.6 cells/ml) embedded in a biocompatible matrix having about 20% serum, which provides a permissive environment for maturation and transformation of the implant to a fully integrated state with the surrounding tissue. A portion of the implant may comprise a bone segment or a bone substitute.

Abstract: A transplantable artificial tissue matrix structure containing viable cells which is suitable for insertion into the body is made by polymerizing precursors in an aqueous solution to form a shape retaining solid matrix comprising viable cells, matrix polymer and reversible gel polymer. The solution contains a matrix polymer precursor, a reversible gel polymer precursor, and viable cells. The reversible gel polymer is dissolved and removed to yield an insoluble, porous matrix containing viable cells. The conditions and reagents are selected to maintain the viability of the cells. The invention is particularly suitable for artificial transplant matrix tissue containing pancreatic islet cells.

Abstract: A composite implant prosthesis comprising a core constructed from a plurality of carbon fibers, a first casing formed from a braided sheath of carbon fibers and a second casing enclosing the core and first casing to define an outer surface contour for the composite implant prosthesis. The method for constructing the composite implant prosthesis includes the steps of pultruding the core from a polymer impregnated tow, braiding the first casing to the pultruded core and applying the second casing thereto. The pultruding and braiding steps are performed in a continuous process while the second casing is applied to a discrete element formed from the core.

Abstract: A grafting material comprising milled bone which has an initial coating of guanidine-extracted bone proteins which are dialyzed from solution. Unbound bone proteins are removed and this augmented milled bone is lyophized. A subsequent coat of anti-coagulated plasma containing plasma proteins is applied to the augmented milled bone. The unbound plasma proteins are removed from the coating by rinsing.

Abstract: An osteosynthetic pin characterized in that the pin is formed substantially of a poly-L-lactic acid having a molecular weight of at least about 70,000, and is formed by axially drawing about 2 to about 10 times at an elevated temperature of about 70.degree. to about 120.degree. C.

Abstract: A femoral-side hip-joint prosthetic device for use in hip-joint replacement. The device includes an elongate stem whose surface defines maximally spaced infero-medial and supero-lateral surface curves, and which is characterized by a surface rotation which carries the supero-lateral surface curve about 15.degree.-30.degree. forward with respect to the infero-medial surface curve, on progressing upward along the upper surface portion of the stem, with the device in operative position. The rotation of the stem surface produces a close approximation to the cavity formed in the proximal femur by removal of the cancellous bone in the natural cavity formed by a wall of densified cancellous bone. A 3.degree.-15.degree. proximal anteversion of the neck is adapted to place a hip-joint ball carried on the stem at a position closely approximating that of the head in the natural femur.

Abstract: A vascular tubular graft of a woven fabric with a single velour outside (external) surface and a smooth interior surface, said outside surface having a plurality of loops, each loop extending around a portion of the circumference thereof and each loop formed by fill yarn positioned about warp yarn.

Abstract: A "tissue valve type" heart valve prosthesis is disclosed which has a biocompatible plastic sewing ring adapted to be surgically implanted into the mitral, aortic or tricuspid annulus of the human heart. The sewing ring has internal square threads and a biocompatible fabric mesh or cloth is embedded into the sewing ring so that the cloth can be fully wrapped around the sewing ring covering all of its plastic surfaces except for the internally protruding threads. A biocompatible plastic stent support ring has externally disposed threads to lock with the threads of the sewing ring in approximately one turn, or less. The stent support ring also embeds a biocompatible fabric mesh which can be wrapped around the stent support ring to cover all of its plastic surfaces, except for the protruding threads, and to form a cloth pocket wherein a solid stent is mounted. A porcine trileaflet valve is mounted to the stent.

Abstract: A prosthesis, adapted for fixation within the medullary cavity of a human bone, having an orthopedic device to which a nonresorbable, flexible membrane is attached in a liquid and air-tight manner. A flexible woven sheath encompasses the membrane and the prosthesis is provided with means for introducing liquid cement under pressure internally of the membrane to force the membrane and sheath outwardly into firm engagement with the walls of the bony cavity to fix the prosthesis in the cavity once the cement has hardened. The membrane prevents any chemical interaction between the cement and bodily fluids.