Patent ID: 7923512
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: A61L,C08L

Abstract:
1. A process for producing a medical implant or medical implant part comprising porous ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, the process comprising: (a) providing a compression mold for the medical implant or medical implant part having an internal volume, (b) providing a matrix comprising ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, wherein the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene has a weight average molecular weight of about 400,000 atomic mass units or more, (c) dispersing a porogen comprising a melt-processable polymer in the matrix to produce a mixture comprising at least one porogen and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, (d) filling at least a portion of the internal volume of the compression mold with the mixture obtained in step (c), (e) compressing the mixture contained within the compression mold for a time and under conditions sufficient to form a medical implant or medical implant part therefrom, (f) removing the medical implant or medical implant part from the compression mold, and (g) immersing the medical implant or medical implant part obtained in step (f) in a solvent for a time and under conditions sufficient to extract at least a portion of the porogen from the medical implant or medical implant part.