Patent ID: 8888841

Claim:
A bioabsorbable implant comprising: a directionally solidified and elongated metallic element comprising more than about 80% by weight a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese, and combinations thereof and being substantially free of rare earth metals, the elongated metallic element defining at least a portion of the bioabsorbable implant, wherein the metal defines at least one of (i) a continuous single grain having an aspect ratio of grain length to grain diameter of at least 10:1 and (ii) a columnar microstructure including one or more columnar grains extending substantially the entire length of the implant, the one or more columnar grains each having an average grain length of at least about 1 mm and an average grain diameter of less than about 0.2 mm; and wherein the metal is configured to exhibit enhanced strength and physical integrity post-implantation by being substantially free of grain boundaries containing impurities.