Abstract: A thin, strong, flexible mineralized collagen membrane is disclosed that is useful for such medical applications as a barrier for guided tissue regeneration, periodontal defect repair, bone grafts and skin wound repair. The mineralized collagen membrane comprises a substantially homogeneous mineralized collagen composite consisting essentially of about 30% to about 70% by weight of a collagen component and about 30% to about 70% by weight of a calcium phosphate minerals component precipitated from a collagen slurry by a soluble calcium ion-containing solution and a soluble phosphate ion-containing solution. The calcium phosphate minerals component has a mole ratio of calcium to phosphate in the range of about 1.0 to about 2.0. The thin, strong, flexible mineralized collagen membrane has a bulk density of at least about 1.0 g/cm3.

Abstract: A method of preparing a polymer structured pigment slurry which comprises providing an anionic, aqueous slurry including a plurality of solid mineral particles, adding a low molecular weight, cationic polymer in an amount of less than about 0.20% by weight to the slurry and then adding a small amount of an inorganic dispersant to the polymer treated pigment slurry. The Malvern median particle size of the mineral particles treated with the polycationic polymer is less than about 20% larger than the Malvern median particle size of the untreated mineral particles.

Abstract: This invention provides new inorganic composite materials for hard tissue replacement. The new composite material comprises solid material of calcium sulfate which is fully or partially converted to calcium phosphate from aqueous solution. This composite material has good biocompatibility and controllable resorption, and will be very useful for bone substitute material in orthopaedic and dental applications. The fully converted material which comprises mainly apatite calcium phosphate is also useful for chromatography application. A process to prepare these new composite materials is also described.

Abstract: Hard tissue replacement materials and methods for making same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present composition comprises a synthetically derived, substantially homogenous composite containing collagen component and calcium phosphate-containing component precipitated from a liquid medium in which the collagen component is contained.

Abstract: A new surgical cement is disclosed. This surgical cement comprises a hardened cement formed from a mixture comprising a cementing component selected from the group consisting of calcium components having a solubility in water at 25.degree. C. in the range of about 0.5 .times. 10.sup.-2 M to about 20 .times. 10.sup.-2 M and mixtures thereof; a setting component selected from the group consisting of water soluble salts of polyfunctional carboxylic acids containing 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, water soluble dibasic phosphate salts and mixtures thereof; and water in an amount effective to form a paste from the mixture which paste hardens into said hardened cement which is biocompatible.

Abstract: A surgical cement of high biocompatibility, useful in orthopedic, maxillofacial and dental applications, comprising a calcium alkali phosphate cement with relatively high surface pH of about 7 or higher, and having a wide variety of chemical compositions, permitting flexibility in controlling the bioresorption rate by changing the chemical composition of the cementing powder.

Abstract: New surgical cements for use in medical applications such as orthopedic and maxillofacial surgeries and dental applications are disclosed. These surgical cements comprise a hardened cement formed from a mixture comprising a cementing component selected from the group consisting of ceramics having the formulaw(RO)--x(R.sub.2 O)--y(P.sub.2 O.sub.5)--z(X)wherein RO is selected from the group consisting of CaO and mixtures of CaO and MgO, R.sub.2 O is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal oxides and mixtures thereof, X is selected from the group consisting of SO.sub.4 and Cl, and w, x, y and z are the mole fractions of the respective constituents in the ceramic, when X is SO.sub.4, w is in the range of about 0.25 to about 0.5, x is in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.4, y is in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.25 and z is in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.25, and when X is Cl, w is in the range of about 0.25 to about 0.5, x is in the range of about 0.05 to about 0.

Abstract: This invention provides a calcium phosphate cement with relatively high surface pH which is very beneficial from the biocompatibility point of view. When calcium phosphate salts react with an acidic reagent to form cement, it normally involves the dissolution and recrystallization process. The acidity of the setting cements depends strongly on the nature of the calcium phosphate salt used, the acidity of the setting reagent, and the reaction rate. The present invention uses high alkaline calcium phosphate ceramics such as tetracalcium phosphate alone or together with calcium phosphate ceramics such as .alpha.-tricalcium phosphate as base cementing powder to increase the surface pH of the setting cement.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the dissolution rate of a hydroxyapatite coating or other calcium phosphate coating formed on a metal substrate by treating the coated metal substrate in a fluoride ion containing solution. The effective reagents for fluoride treatment can be any solution which supplies fluoride ion with the suitable pH of the solution being 3 or higher, preferably 5 or higher. The treatment enhances the stability of the coating strength.