Spinal implants with improved mechanical response
A method of treating a patient includes determining a patient characteristic associated with the patient, determining a property value based at least in part on the patient characteristic, and determining a crosslinking parameter based at least in part on the property value.
1 . A method of treating a patient, the method comprising:
determining a patient characteristic associated with the patient;
determining a property value based at least in part on the patient characteristic; and
determining a crosslinking parameter based at least in part on the property value.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
effecting crosslinking of a bulk polymeric material of a device component based at least in part on the crosslinking parameter.
3 .- 6 . (canceled)
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein effecting crosslinking of the device component includes irradiating the device component.
8 .- 9 . (canceled)
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the patient characteristic includes reviewing a patient medical file associated with the patient.
11 .- 17 . (canceled)
18 . A method of forming an implant device component, the method comprising:
determining a configuration of an implant device component; and
effecting crosslinking in a portion of a bulk polymeric material of the implant device component.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising treating the implant device component.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein treating the implant device component includes sterilizing the implant device component.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein treating the implant device component includes annealing the bulk polymeric material of implant device component.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein treating the implant device component includes surface treating the implant device component.
23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein effecting crosslinking in the portion of the bulk polymeric material of the implant device component includes irradiating the portion of the bulk polymeric material.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein effecting crosslinking in the portion of the bulk polymeric material includes masking irradiation from a second portion of the bulk polymeric material.
25 . The method of claim 18 , wherein effecting crosslinking in the portion of the bulk polymeric material of the implant device component includes forming a temperature gradient in the bulk material.
26 . (canceled)
27 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the implant device component includes a nucleus of a spinal implant device.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the portion is an anterior portion of the nucleus and wherein effecting crosslinking in the portion includes crosslinking the anterior portion of the nucleus.
29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the portion is a posterior portion of the nucleus and wherein effecting crosslinking in the portion includes crosslinking the posterior portion of the nucleus.
30 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the portion is a center portion of the nucleus and wherein effecting crosslinking in the portion includes crosslinking the center portion of the nucleus.
31 .- 47 . (canceled)
48 . A prosthetic device comprising:
a component configured to be interposed between two osteal structures, the component formed of a bulk polymeric material including a first portion of the bulk polymeric material crosslinked to a greater extent than a second portion of the bulk polymeric material.
49 . The prosthetic device of claim 48 , wherein the two osteal structures include an inferior vertebra and a superior vertebra.
50 . The prosthetic device of claim 48 , wherein the component is configured to be interposed within a region surrounded by an annulus fibrosis and between an inferior vertebra and a superior vertebra.
51 .- 53 . (canceled)
54 . The prosthetic device of claim 48 , wherein the first portion is a center portion.
55 . The prosthetic device of claim 48 , wherein the first portion is an end portion.
56 . The prosthetic device of claim 48 , wherein the component has a maximum radius between about 3 mm and about 15 mm.
57 . (canceled)
58 . A kit comprising:
a prosthetic device comprising a bulk polymeric material; and
instructions relative to crosslinking the bulk polymeric material.