Patent ID: 8262976

Claim:
A method of processing a crosslinked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), wherein the UHMWPE is characterized by a dimension d 1 in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction, the method comprising: heating the crosslinked UHMWPE to a compression deformable temperature below the crystalline melting point of the UHMWPE; applying pressure on the UHMWPE to reduce the dimension to a value d 2 less than d 1 ; cooling the crosslinked UHMWPE to a solidification temperature; stress relieving the cooled crosslinked UHMWPE to make an oriented UHMWPE molded article having a tensile strength measured in the axial direction that is 20% or more higher than the tensile strength measured in the orthogonal direction; and then machining a load bearing medical implant component from the cooled UHMWPE, wherein the component has a load bearing axis substantially coincident with the axial direction of the crosslinked UHMWPE.