Patent ID: 7569620
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: A61F,A61L,B29B,B29C,B29K,B29L,C08J,C08L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of making a medical prosthesis comprising irradiated crosslinked polyethylene composition, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) irradiating polyethylene at a temperature that is below the melting point of the polyethylene in order to form free radicals that crosslink by recombination; and b) mechanically deforming the polyethylene from step a) at a temperature that is above room temperature and below the melting point of the irradiated polyethylene in order to mobilize residual free radicals that are trapped to allow residual free radicals to recombine and form additional crosslinks, thereby providing a medical prosthesis having irradiated crosslinked polyethylene composition, wherein molecules of the irradiated crosslinked polyethylene composition are orientated through the mechanical deforming.