Patent ID: 7964206

Claim:
A porous bioabsorbable, bioactive and load-bearing medical device composite structure having a bioabsorbable matrix and reinforcing structure, said composite structure further comprising: a plurality of textile planar layers, said layers being formed of continuous fibrous elements and being placed on top of each other to a position with respect to each other to form a structure having two dimensions which are nonparallel to each other and a third dimension originating from piling of said planar layers on top of each other; a plurality of openings extending through said layers, said openings being defined by portions of said continuous fibrous elements extending substantially in the direction of said plane and existing in the textile planar layers prior to placing them on top of each other; a plurality of passages extending through said structure, said passages being formed of the openings in different textile planar layers placed on top of each other; a reinforcing structure formed by reinforcing bioactive ceramic fibers included in said continuous fibrous elements; and a bioabsorbable matrix formed by bioabsorbable polymer matrix material also included in said continuous fibrous elements; the position of the layers with respect to each other being fixed when said bioabsorbable polymer matrix binds together said portions of said continuous fibrous elements defining said openings and binds said layers together, simultaneously stiffening said structure; said bioabsorbable polymer matrix material comprising bioabsorbable thermoplastic polymer material or polymer blend material, and said continuous fibrous elements defining said openings are bound together and the structure is stiffened by said bioabsorbable thermoplastic polymer material or polymer blend material softened or melted in heat treatment and solidified.