Abstract: A porous calcium phosphate ceramic body comprising a substrate 1, and three-dimensional nanotunnel layers 2 formed on wall surfaces of the substrate 1, the three-dimensional nanotunnel layers 2 having pluralities of three-dimensionally connected nanotunnels 21.

Abstract: A bone filling material prepared from both a cement material for bone filling and a crimpled fibrous material, which is filled into an affected part in such a state that the crimpled fibrous material is dispersed in a cement base material consisting of the above cement material. It is preferable that the cement material contain calcium phosphate cement and the crimpled fibrous material have a mean diameter of 10 to 500 ?m.

Abstract: A porous calcium phosphate ceramic body comprising a substrate 1, and three-dimensional nanotunnel layers 2 formed on wall surfaces of the substrate 1, the three-dimensional nanotunnel layers 2 having pluralities of three-dimensionally connected nanotunnels 21.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a powder, by which it is possible to adjust the strength of the obtained powder is provided. The manufacturing method of a powder involves a step of preparing a slurry containing agglomerated particles of a synthetic material which is produced by reacting a first material and a second material under agitation, and a step of drying the slurry to obtain a powder of the synthetic material. The method has a feature that the particle size of the agglomerated particles is adjusted by, in the step of preparing a slurry, controlling agitation power for agitating the slurry. In the step of preparing a slurry, it is preferable that the slurry is initially agitated at a first agitation power, and at the time when the viscosity of the slurry approaches its maximum value, or at the time when the pH value of the slurry reaches the vicinity of the isoelectric point of the synthetic material, the agitation power is lowered from the first agitation power to a second agitation power.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an osteogenic treatment device having excellent bone formation ability and being capable of forming bone having a shape corresponding to a shape of site of implantation. The osteogenic treatment device of the present invention includes nucleic acid containing a base sequence coding for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), an angiogenesis factor, and a biocompatible base body, and it is to be implanted into a living body for osteogenic treatment. The bone morphogenetic protein contains at least one of BMP-2, BMP-4 and BMP-7, and the nucleic acid contains a base sequence derived from an expression plasmid. The angiogenesis factor is at least one of basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF). The base body is formed into a block body formed of a porous material having a porosity of 30 to 95%. Preferably, the base body is mainly formed of hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate.

Abstract: A prosthetic filler for a living body having excellent storage properties and handlability is disclosed. The prosthetic filler includes calcium phosphate granules and porous small chips made of an organic material for binding these calcium phosphate granules to each other. The prosthetic filler is made by mixing the calcium phosphate granules and the small chips of the organic material. When the prosthetic filler is used for a living body, it is added with water, and then they are kneaded to become a paste state. Thus obtained paste state prosthetic filler is injected into a bone defect site or the like to restore it.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic composite comprises the steps of preparing at least two ceramics bodies to be bonded together, each of the at least two ceramics bodies having a bonding surface; preparing a slurry in which primary particles of a bonding ceramic are dispersed; applying the slurry to the bonding surface of at least one of the ceramic bodies to be bonded; and sintering the ceramic bodies between which the slurry has been interposed to bond them. In this method, the bonding ceramic in the slurry is preferably constituted from the same ceramic starting material as that of the at least one of the ceramic bodies to be bonded. In this way, it becomes possible to manufacture, with a simple technique, a ceramic composite having a required strength and excellent biocompatibility and biosafety.

Abstract: A method for forming an implant having a desired shape includes the steps of (a) forming a layer of ingredient powder having a predetermined thickness composed of an ingredient powder, and (b) applying an reactant liquid to the layer in accordance with the desired shape of the implant, portions of the ingredient powder reacting with the reactant liquid being hardened. The above steps are repeated to stack a plurality of the layers having hardened portions, respectively, to form a three-dimensional implant formed by a stack of the hardened portions of the layers of the ingredient powder. The ingredient powder is a powder including at least one of a-tricalcium phosphate and tetracalcium phosphate, and a Ca/P ratio of the powder is within a range of 1.40 through 2.0.

Abstract: A sustained release drug carrier comprises a ceramic composite which is formed by bonding a plurality of ceramic bodies together, and drugs impregnated into the ceramic composite. A method of manufacturing the sustained release drug carrier comprises the steps of: (i) preparing ceramic bodies to be bonded together, each of the ceramic bodies having a bonding surface; (ii) preparing a slurry in which primary particles of a bonding ceramics are dispersed; (iii) applying the slurry to the bonding surface of at least one of the ceramic bodies to be bonded; (iv) sintering the ceramic bodies between which the slurry has been interposed to bond them together, to obtain a ceramic composite; and (v) impregnating a drug into the obtained ceramic composite.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a powder, by which it is possible to adjust the strength of the obtained powder is provided. The manufacturing method of a powder involves a step of preparing a slurry containing agglomerated particles of a synthetic material which is produced by reacting a first material and a second material under agitation, and a step of drying the slurry to obtain a powder of the synthetic material. The method has a feature that the particle size of the agglomerated particles is adjusted by, in the step of preparing a slurry, controlling agitation power for agitating the slurry. In the step of preparing a slurry, it is preferable that the slurry is initially agitated at a first agitation power, and at the time when the viscosity of the slurry approaches its maximum value, or at the time when the pH value of the slurry reaches the vicinity of the isoelectric point of the synthetic material, the agitation power is lowered from the first agitation power to a second agitation power.

Abstract: A method for forming an implant having a desired shape includes the steps of (a) forming a layer of ingredient powder having a predetermined thickness composed of an ingredient powder, and (b) applying an reactant liquid to the layer in accordance with the desired shape of the implant, portions of the ingredient powder reacting with the reactant liquid being hardened. The above steps are repeated to stack a plurality of the layers having hardened portions, respectively, to form a three-dimensional implant formed by a stack of the hardened portions of the layers of the ingredient powder. The ingredient powder is a powder including at least one of a-tricalcium phosphate and tetracalcium phosphate, and a Ca/P ratio of the powder is within a range of 1.40 through 2.0.

Abstract: A prosthetic filler for a living body having excellent storage properties and handlability is disclosed. The prosthetic filler includes calcium phosphate granules and porous small chips made of an organic material for binding these calcium phosphate granules to each other. The prosthetic filler is made by mixing the calcium phosphate granules and the small chips of the organic material. When the prosthetic filler is used for a living body, it is added with water, and then they are kneaded to become a paste state. Thus obtained paste state prosthetic filler is injected into a bone defect site or the like to restore it.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic composite comprises the steps of preparing at least two ceramics bodies to be bonded together, each of the at least two ceramics bodies having a bonding surface; preparing a slurry in which primary particles of a bonding ceramic are dispersed; applying the slurry to the bonding surface of at least one of the ceramic bodies to be bonded; and sintering the ceramic bodies between which the slurry has been interposed to bond them. In this method, the bonding ceramic in the slurry is preferably constituted from the same ceramic starting material as that of the at least one of the ceramic bodies to be bonded. In this way, it becomes possible to manufacture, with a simple technique, a ceramic composite having a required strength and excellent biocompatibility and biosafety.

Abstract: A prosthetic bone material comprising a bonded and sintered product of granules of calcium phosphate compound having a particle size of at least 100 &mgr;m, each of the granules being bonded with particulates of calcium phosphate compound having a particle size of about 1 to 40 &mgr;m, in which the granules are bonded to each other while retaining their original shape, and their bonding strength is a level sufficient to maintain their own shape when the bonded and sintered product is disintegrated, produced by mixing the granules and the particulates, followed by firing the mixture at a temperature of about 800 to 1,200° C.

Abstract: An artificial socket comprising a composite body of a calcium phosphate compound and an in vivo-absorptive polymeric material. The artificial socket is embedded and secured in the pelvis side of the artificial hip joint. The socket has a configuration of a semi-spherical shell body, and the thickness thereof is thinner than that of a conventional artificial socket and the inner diameter thereof is substantially the same as that of a real socket in a human bone. An artificial hip joint using the artificial socket and a fixing screw suitable for the fixation of the socket in the pelvis are also disclosed.