US5007939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article made of lactic acid polymer capable of being employed particularly as a biodegradable prosthesis and process for its manufacture
Assignee: Solvay SA
•
Filing: 1988-11-07
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Granted: 1991-04-16
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Expires: 2008-11-07
Abstract
Abstract Article made of lactic acid polymer capable of being employed particulaly as a biodegradable prosthesis exhibiting at 23° C. a tensile regidity modulus higher than 5000 MPa and a tensile resilience higher than 500 kJ/m 2 and a heat shrinkage of less than 50% at 130° C. The article is produced by forging a blank at a temperature of between 80° and 170° C., with a draw ratio of 200 to 1000%.
Inventors
- 👤 Luc Delcommune
- 👤 Philippe Ghyselinck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:20
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C55/00; B29C55/30; A; A61; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61L27/18; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C71/00; B29C71/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/924; Y10S623/926
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
32 words
A biodegradable prosthesis comprising a molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer exhibiting at 23° C. a tensile rigidity modulus higher than 5000 MPa and a tensile resilience higher than 500 kJ/m 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
A biodegradable prosthesis comprising a molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer exhibiting at 23° C. a tensile rigidity modulus higher than 5000 MPa and a tensile resilience higher than 500 kJ/m 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The biodegradable prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer additionally exhibits a heat shrinkage of less than 15% at 130° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The biodegradable prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer is a homopolymer of L-lactic acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The biodegradable prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer has an average molecular weight greater than 250,000.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The biodegradable prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer has an average molecular weight greater than 400,000.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The biodegradable prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer exhibits at 23° C. a tensile rigidity modulus higher than 7,500 MPa.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The biodegradable prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer exhibits a tensile resilience higher than 3,000 kJ/m 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The biodegradable prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer is produced by extruding a blank made of lactic acid polymer at a temperature between about 170° and 250° C., heat-aging the extruded blank at a temperature between about 80° and 170° C., and then drawing the aged blank to between about 200 and 1,000%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The biodegradable prosthesis according to claim 8, wherein said molecularly oriented lactic acid polymer is annealed under tension at a temperature of at least about 130° C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1478695A
Cited
GB1123445A
Cited
FR2088548A1
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US3636956A
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FR2156513A1
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EP0133355A2
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EP0146398A2
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EP0157601A2
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US4898186A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-15 | 1994-10-15 | 1995-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-15 | 1998-10-15 | 1999-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-15 | 2002-10-15 | 2003-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |