Polymeric spinal fusion system including spinal cage
A spinal cage for implantation between two adjacent vertebrae includes a polymer composition that includes a polyetherimide. The polyetherimide includes repeating units of the formula
1. A spinal cage for implantation between two adjacent vertebrae, wherein the spinal cage comprises a polymer composition, the polymer composition comprising a polyetherimide, wherein the polyetherimide comprises repeating units of the formula
wherein R is a divalent radical of the formula
or combinations thereof wherein Q is selected from —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO 2 —, —SO—, and —C y H 2y — wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5; and T is —O— or a group of the formula —O—Z—O— wherein the divalent bonds of the —O— or the —O—Z—O— group are in the 3,3′, 3,4′, 4,3′, or the 4,4′ positions and Z is a divalent group of the formula
wherein Q 2 is selected from —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO 2 —, —SO—, and —C y H 2y — wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5.
2. The spinal cage of claim 1 , wherein the polyetherimide comprises structural units derived from at least one diamine selected from 1,3-diaminobenzene, 1,4-diaminobenzene, 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone, oxydianiline, 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene, or combinations thereof.
3. The spinal cage of claim 1 , wherein the polyetherimide has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 10,000 to about 150,000 grams per mole (g/mol).
4. The spinal cage of claim 1 , wherein the polyetherimide has less than 100 ppm amine end groups.
5. The spinal cage of claim 1 , further comprising a biocide, wherein the biocide is selected from germicides, antimicrobials, antibiotics, antibacterials, antiyeasts, antialgals, antivirals, antifungals, antiprotozoals, antiparasites, and combinations thereof.
6. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the spinal cage comprises a polymer component comprising between 40 wt % and 90 wt % of the polyetherimide resin and between 10 wt % and 60 wt % of a filler by weight of the polymer component.
7. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein the filler comprises glass, carbon, carbon fiber, or a combination thereof.
8. The spinal cage of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition further comprises ceramic or metal.
9. The spinal cage of claim 1 , wherein the spinal cage is sterilized using at least one sterilization process selected from the group consisting of: steam autoclave sterilization, hydrogen peroxide sterilization, gamma-ray sterilization and ethylene oxide sterilization.
10. The spinal cage of claim 1 , wherein the spinal cage has a compressive strength after sterilization that is within 5% of the compressive strength of the spinal cage prior to sterilization.
11. A spinal fusion system comprising: a spinal cage and a plate, wherein the plate secures the spinal cage to the vertebrae, wherein the spinal cage comprises a polymer composition, the polymer composition comprising a polyetherimide, wherein the polyetherimide comprises repeating units of the formula
wherein R is a divalent radical of the formula
or combinations thereof wherein Q is selected from —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO 2 —, —SO—, and —C y H 2y — wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5; and T is —O— or a group of the formula —O—Z—O— wherein the divalent bonds of the —O— or the —O—Z—O— group are in the 3,3′, 3,4′, 4,3′, or the 4,4′ positions and Z is a divalent group of the formula
wherein Q 2 is selected from —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO 2 —, —SO—, and —C y H 2y — wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5.
12. The spinal fusion system of claim 11 , wherein the plate comprises polyetherimide.
13. A method of treating a spine of a patient comprising: removing a damaged spinal disk and inserting a spinal cage into an area of the spine that contained the damaged spinal disk, wherein the spinal cage comprises a polymer composition comprising a polyetherimide,
wherein the polyetherimide comprises repeating units of the formula
wherein R is a divalent radical of the formula
or combinations thereof wherein Q is selected from —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO 2 —, —SO—, and —C y H 2y — wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5; and T is —O— or a group of the formula —O—Z—O— wherein the divalent bonds of the —O— or the —O—Z—O— group are in the 3,3′, 3,4′, 4,3′, or the 4,4′ positions and Z is a divalent group of the formula
wherein Q 2 is selected from —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO 2 —, —SO—, and —C y H 2y — wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the polyetherimide has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 10,000 to about 150,000 grams per mole (g/mol).
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the polyetherimide has less than 100 ppm amine end groups.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising a biocide, wherein the biocide is selected from germicides, antimicrobials, antibiotics, antibacterials, antiyeasts, antialgals, antivirals, antifungals, antiprotozoals, antiparasites, and combinations thereof.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the spinal cage comprises a polymer component comprising between 40 wt % and 90 wt % of the polyetherimide and between 10 wt % and 60 wt % of a filler by weight of the polymer component.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the filler comprises glass, carbon, carbon fiber, or a combination thereof.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the polymer composition further comprises ceramic or metal.