BONE IMPLANTS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS
An implantable elastic material configured for use with bone implants is provided with a wire wound in an axially expanded coil form, with the expanded coil formed into a tight mesh. In some embodiments, the wire is formed from a titanium alloy. Methods of manufacturing the implantable material, and implantable devices comprising the material are also disclosed.
1 . An implantable elastic material configured for use with bone implants, the material comprising:
a wire wound in an axially expanded coil form, wherein the expanded coil has been formed into a tight mesh.
2 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the wire comprises a titanium alloy.
3 . The material of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the wire has a coating selected from the group consisting of an osteogenic inducer, an osteogenic inhibiter, a medicine, or a combination thereof.
4 . The material of claim 1 , wherein microparticles of a slow release composition are implanted in pores of the material.
5 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the wire has a diameter of between about 0.1 mm and about 0.5 mm.
6 . The material of claim 1 , wherein the axially expanded coil has a pitch that is about three times its nominal diameter.
7 . A bone screw pad comprising the material of claim 1 .
8 . A spinous process expander comprising the material of claim 1 .
9 . A vertebral interbody fusion cage comprising the material of claim 1 .
10 . A synthetic nucleus pulposus comprising the material of claim 1 .
11 . A bone filling block used in osteosynthesis comprising the material of claim 1 .
12 . A manufacturing process comprising the steps of;
winding a wire into a coil;
winding the coil around a work piece;
removing the coil from the work piece; and
compressing the coil into an implantable elastic mesh.
13 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , further comprising the step of expanding the coil to a predetermined pitch after it is formed from the wire and before the coil is wound around the work piece.
14 . The manufacturing process of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined pitch that is about three times the nominal diameter of the coil.
15 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , wherein the coil is wound around a plate-shaped work piece.
16 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , wherein the coil is first wound in one lateral direction along the work piece, then in the opposite lateral direction, and then these steps are repeated until a mesh of required density is achieved.
17 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , wherein the coil is first wound in one lateral direction along the work piece with a first pitch, then in the opposite lateral direction with a second pitch that is about half of the first pitch.
18 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , wherein the compressing step comprises winding the coil removed from the work piece around a mandrel.
19 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , further comprising the step of coating at least a portion of the wire with a coating selected from the group consisting of an osteogenic inducer, an osteogenic inhibiter, a medicine, or a combination thereof.
20 . The manufacturing process of claim 19 , wherein the coating step occurs before the wire is wound into a coil.
21 . The manufacturing process of claim 19 , wherein the coating step occurs after the wire is wound into a coil.
22 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , further comprising the step of implanting microparticles of a slow release composition into pores of the implantable elastic mesh.
23 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming a bone screw pad with the implantable elastic mesh.
24 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming a spinous process expander with the implantable elastic mesh.
25 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming a vertebral interbody fusion cage with the implantable elastic mesh.
26 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming a synthetic nucleus pulposus with the implantable elastic mesh.
27 . The manufacturing process of claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming a bone filling block used in osteosynthesis with the implantable elastic mesh.