Artificial bone graft implant

Abstract

An artificial bone graft implant for use as a replacement for living bone material in surgical procedures requiring the use of bone graft material includes a body formed of a microporous material and configured to be implanted into a prepared site in a patient's bone tissue. The body has a center portion, an outer portion and a pair of opposed outer surfaces defining the body. The body has a small average pore size in the center portion that gradually changes to larger average pore size in the outer portion. The pore size of the center portion of the implant allows for a load bearing capacity similar to natural bone and the pore size of the outer portion of the implant allows for the ingrowth of bone tissue.

1 . A artificial bone graft implant for use as a replacement for living bone material in surgical procedures requiring the use of bone graft material, the implant comprising: 
 a body formed of a microporous material and configured to be implanted into a prepared site in a patient's bone tissue, said body having a center portion, an outer portion and a pair of opposed outer surfaces defining said body;    said body having a small average pore size in the center portion that gradually changes to larger average pore size in the outer portion, wherein the pore size of the center portion of the implant allows for a load bearing capacity similar to natural bone and the pore size of the outer portion of the implant allows for the ingrowth of bone tissue.    
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a biocompatible microporous material that bonds to bone.  
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 2 , wherein the biocompatible microporous material is selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics and composite materials.  
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the composite material comprises calcium phosphate, bioactive glass, and bioresorbable polymers.  
     
     
         5 . A bone implant for use as a replacement for living bone material comprising: 
 a body comprising a bioabsorbable material configured and shaped to be implanted into a prepared site in bone tissue, the body having a center portion, an outer portion and a pair of opposed outer surfaces defining the body;    the body having a relatively low average porosity in the center portion and gradually changing to a relatively high average porosity in the outer portion, wherein the pore size of the center portion provides for a load bearing capacity generally similar to material bone and the pore size of the outer portion permits ingrowth of bone tissue.    
     
     
         6 . The implant as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the body is monolithically formed of a bioabsorbable material.