Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A surgical method of repairing a disease-damaged joint of a living being, comprising the following steps: cleaning the ball and socket surfaces of the joint to remove extraneous material therefrom without removing any substantial amount of bone tissue; impregnating a porous sheet of fabric with a homogeneous solution of binder material; applying to one surface of the impregnated sheet a coating including binder material, said coating extending above the high points of said one surface; reducing said impregnated and coated sheet to a uniform specified thickness, and providing a smooth, glossy finish on said one surface; shaping the coated sheet between mold members having male and female shaping surfaces conforming substantially to the ball and socket surfaces respectively of the joint to be repaired, thus providing a cup-shaped pad; and cementing the other surface of said pad to the cleaned, mating surface of said joint, leaving said glossy surface of the pad free for smooth sliding contact with the other surface of said joint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A surgical method of repairing a disease-damaged joint of a living being, comprising the following steps: cleaning the ball and socket surfaces of the joint to remove extraneous material therefrom without removing any substantial amount of bone tissue; impregnating a porous sheet of fabric with a homogeneous solution of binder material; applying to one surface of the impregnated sheet a coating including binder material, said coating extending above the high points of said one surface; reducing said impregnated and coated sheet to a uniform specified thickness, and providing a smooth, glossy finish on said one surface; shaping the coated sheet between mold members having male and female shaping surfaces conforming substantially to the ball and socket surfaces respectively of the joint to be repaired, thus providing a cup-shaped pad; and cementing the other surface of said pad to the cleaned, mating surface of said joint, leaving said glossy surface of the pad free for smooth sliding contact with the other surface of said joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein said mating joint surface is cleaned so as to provide a bare bone surface for attachment of the pad directly thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said coating includes polyethylene material of high molecular weight, in solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said solution of binder material includes a small percentage of a very finely divided metal powder, dispersed therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein there is dispersed in said solution of binder material, between about 1% and 2% of very fine metal powder of about 0.8 micron grain size, selected from the class including tungsten, wolfram and other tungsten alloys.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said coating includes polyethylene material in solution, and a small proportion of a finely divided metal powder selected from the class including tungsten and tungsten alloys, plus titanium oxide functioning as an extender, providing a homogeneous dispersion of the metal powder in the coating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric is first saturated with the coating material to a depth of about half the thickness; the saturated fabric is then dried at a temperature not exceeding 160° F.; a mixture of the coating material and a small percentage of finely divided metal selected from the class including tungsten and its alloys, is then applied to the fabric so as to increase the depth of the coating material to about 75% of fabric thickness; the fabric is then again dried; more of the coating material and metal powder mixture is then applied to the fabric so as to increase its saturation to substantially its full thickness; the saturated fabric is then dried and drawn so as to bring it to a uniform thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
212 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric is first saturated with the coating material to a depth of about half its thickness; the saturated material is then dried at a temperature not exceeding 160° F.; a mixture of the coating material and a small percentage of finely divided metal powder selected from the class including tungsten and its alloys, is then applied to the fabric so as to increase the depth of the coating material to about 75% of fabric thickness; the fabric is then again dried; more of the mixture of coating material and metal powder is then applied to the fabric so as to increase its saturation to substantially its full thickness; the saturated fabric is then dried and drawn so as to bring it to uniform thickness; and, following the drawing operation, there is applied to the saturated fabric, more of the coating material and metal powder mixture so as to produce a coating which extends above the peaks of the fabric not more than about 0.002 inches; and the last mentioned coating is then dried and the coated fabric is then calendered at a pressure of up to 4000 lbs. per square inch, thereby obtaining a uniform specified thickness, a highly glossy finish, and enhanced compressive strength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
A repair pad of meniscus shape for surgical insertion between the ball and socket of a disease-damaged joint of a living being, comprising: a sheet of fabric material; a body of binder material saturating said fabric material, at least a portion of the thickness of said body including a finely divided hard metal powder dispersed therein; said saturated material being finished so as to have a highly glossy surface, a uniform specified thickness, and enhances strength.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
A repair pad of meniscus shape for surgical insertion between the ball and socket of a disease-damaged joint of a living being, comprising: a sheet of fabric material; a body of binder material saturating said fabric material, at least a portion of the thickness of said body including a finely divided hard metal powder dispersed therein; said saturated material being finished so as to have a highly glossy surface, a uniform specified thickness, and enhances strength.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A repair pad as defined in claim 9, said hard metal powder being present to the extent of about 1% to 2% of the total body of said binder material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A repair pad as defined in claim 9, said hard metal powder being selected from the group including tungsten and tungsten alloys.