Radiation and melt treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene prosthetic devices

Abstract

A medical prosthesis for use within the body which is formed of radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals, is described. Preferred prostheses exhibit reduced production of particles from the prosthesis during wear of the prosthesis, and are substantially oxidation resistant. Methods of manufacture of such devices and material used therein are also provided.

1 - 123 . (canceled)  
     
     
         124 . In a medical implant having at least a first member and a bearing component providing a bearing contact surface for the first member, the bearing component made of crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and wherein said crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene is characterized by a polymeric structure of about 51% crystallinity or less.  
     
     
         125 . A medical implant bearing component with improved wear resistance for use within a joint prosthesis within a body, said implant bearing component is made of a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure of about 51% crystallinity or less, so as to increase wear resistance of said implant within the body.  
     
     
         126 . A medical implant bearing component with improved wear resistance for use within a joint prosthesis within a body, said component is made of a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure of about 3.4 degree of swelling or less so as to increase the wear resistance of said implant within the body.  
     
     
         127 . An orthopaedic material for production of medical implant bearing component with improved wear resistance for use within a joint prosthesis within a body, comprising crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure characterized by: about 51% crystallinity or less.  
     
     
         128 . An orthopaedic material for production of medical implant bearing component with improved wear resistance for use within a joint prosthesis within a body, comprising crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure characterized by about 3.4 degree of swelling or less.  
     
     
         129 . A fabricated article with improved wear resistance being made into a medical implant bearing component made of crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure characterized by about 51% crystallinity or less, wherein said article is further annealed to preshrink its size and to alter its physical structure such that its size is stabilized before being made into said medical implant bearing component.  
     
     
         130 . A method for improving the wear characteristics of an implantable orthopaedic bearing component made from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene comprising the step of crosslinking a polyethylene to provide a polymeric structure with about 51% or less crystallinity.  
     
     
         131 . A method for improving the wear characteristics of an implantable orthopaedic bearing component made from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene comprising the step of crosslinking a polyethylene to provide a polymeric structure with about 3.4 degree of swelling or less.  
     
     
         132 . A method for making an implantable orthopaedic bearing component for use in a joint prosthesis in a body so as to reduce its wear, comprising the steps of: (a) crosslinking a polyethylene to provide a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene with a polymeric structure of about 51% or less crystallinity, and (b) forming the implantable orthopaedic bearing component from said crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.  
     
     
         133 . A method for making an implantable orthopaedic bearing component for use in a joint prosthesis in a body so as to reduce its wear, comprising the steps of: (a) crosslinking a polyethylene to provide a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene with a polymeric structure of about 3.4 degree of swelling or less, and (b) forming the implantable orthopaedic bearing component from said crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.  
     
     
         134 . In a medical implant having at least a first member and a bearing component providing a bearing contact surface for the first member, the bearing component made of crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and wherein said crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene is characterized by a polymeric structure of about 3.4 degree of swelling or less.  
     
     
         135 . A fabricated article with improved wear resistance being made into a medical implant bearing component made of crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a polymeric structure characterized by about 3.4 degree of swelling or less, wherein said article is further annealed to preshrink its size and to alter its physical structure such that its size is stabilized before being made into said medical implant bearing component.  
     
     
         136 . A medical implant having a bearing surface having improved wear resistance, wherein the bearing surface comprises crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having about 50% crystallinity or less.  
     
     
         137 . A medical implant having a bearing surface having improved wear resistance, wherein the bearing surface comprises crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene exhibiting a swell ratio of 2.5 or less.  
     
     
         138 . An orthopaedic material for production of medical implant bearing component with improved wear resistance for use within a joint prosthesis within a body, comprising crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having about 50% crystallinity or less.  
     
     
         139 . An orthopaedic material for production of medical implant bearing component with improved wear resistance for use within a joint prosthesis within a body, comprising crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene exhibiting a swell ratio of 2.5 or less.  
     
     
         140 . A method for improving the wear characteristics of an implantable orthopaedic bearing component made from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene comprising the step of crosslinking a polyethylene to provide a polymeric structure with about 50% or less crystallinity.  
     
     
         141 . A method for improving the wear characteristics of an implantable orthopaedic bearing component made from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene comprising the step of crosslinking a polyethylene to provide a polymeric structure with about 2.5 degree of swelling or less.  
     
     
         142 . A method for making an implantable orthopaedic bearing component for use in a joint prosthesis in a body so as to reduce its wear, comprising the steps of: (a) crosslinking a polyethylene to provide a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having about 50% or less crystallinity, and (b) forming the implantable orthopaedic bearing component from said crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.  
     
     
         143 . A method for making an implantable orthopaedic bearing component for use in a joint prosthesis in a body so as to reduce its wear, comprising the steps of: (a) crosslinking a polyethylene to provide a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a about 2.5 degree of swelling or less, and (b) forming the implantable orthopaedic bearing component from said crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.