Abstract: A biodegradable medicament delivery system comprising a multi-layered calcium-sulfate based drug delivery vehicle. The vehicle comprises a calcium sulfate center or core with the medicament or medicaments, encased in one or more layers of chitosan. The chitosan may be cross-linked with a cross-linking agent. The vehicle may comprise any suitable shape, including, but not limited to, a sphere, bead or pellet. Medicaments include, but are not limited to, antibiotics, anesthetics, growth factors, and proteins. A physician can implant the coated vehicles into the desired site to create a beneficial, localized treatment that produces high local concentrations of medication while reducing the overall serum concentration throughout the body.

Abstract: Bone graft substitute compositions and methods of making the compositions are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of making a composition includes contacting a mixing solution with a first mixture having calcium sulfate hemihydrate and a plasticizing material to form a second mixture; waiting a predetermined period of time after forming said second mixture; and then contacting demineralized bone with the second mixture to form the composition. A composition can be formed from a kit including a first mixture having calcium sulfate hemihydrate and a plasticizing substance, a second mixture having demineralized bone, and a mixing solution. The first and second mixtures and the mixing solution are unblended.

Abstract: A method of preparing an implant for bone in-growth comprising: providing a metal implant body, the metal implant body having a metal load bearing layer on an outer surface, the metal load bearing layer having a plurality of pores therein, the pores configured to promote bone in-growth into the load bearing layer; providing calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate; providing a diluent; mixing the calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate and the diluent to form a calcium sulfate paste; applying the calcium sulfate paste to the load bearing layer such that the calcium paste substantially impregnates at least a portion of the pores and forms an excess layer of the calcium sulfate paste on an outer surface of the load bearing layer; and wiping the calcium sulfate paste to remove the excess layer and thereby expose the outer surface of the load bearing layer while leaving the calcium sulfate paste impregnated in the pores.