Medical implant having bioabsorbable textured surface
View Patent ↗A hybrid medical implant having a biocompatible, nonabsorbable core portion and a bioabsorbable textured outer surface portion overlying the core portion. The hybrid implant is useful as a prosthesis for tissue augmentation and/or reconstruction. The core portion of the implant includes a body formed from a nonabsorbable, biocompatible implantable material such as silicone or urethane elastomer. The core portion may be either a solid body, a viscous gel body or a fluid-filled shell. The textured outer surface portion envelops the core portion and presents an irregular, bioabsorbable textured surface to the exterior environment. As a capsule forms around the implant following implantation, the irregular contour of the outer surface of the implant disorients structural proteins in the capsule to impede spherical contraction thereof. Either during the formation of the capsule and/or after the capsule is formed, the outer bioabsorbable surface portion of the implant is absorbed by the body of the host. After bioabsorbtion of the bioabsorbable outer surface portion, the remaining core portion of the implant remains enveloped by the capsule but unattached to capsular tissue. The outer bioabsorbable portion of the hybrid implant may include more than one biocompatible, bioabsorbable material.
1. A hybrid medical implant comprising an elastomeric, nonbioabsorbable core portion having an outer surface and a plurality of discrete particles of a bioabsorbable material partially embedded in said outer surface such that an exposed portion of said particles projects outwardly from said outer surface, said exposed portion of said particles and said outer surface of said core portion in combination providing an outer surface of said hybrid medical implant and wherein said outer surface of said hybrid medical implant has an irregular topography such that immediately upon implantation of the hybrid medical implant within the body, the exposed portion of said plurality of particles of bioabsorbable material project outwardly from said outer surface of said core portion; and after the particles of bioabsorbable material are absorbed by the body, the outer surface of said core portion of said hybrid medical implant has a plurality of open craters therewithin, said hybrid medical implant being made by a process including the steps of: (a) coating an outer surface of an implantable article with a curable elastomeric composition to form an uncured core portion; then (b) applying a plurality of discrete bioabsorbable particles to said uncured core portion such that said bioabsorbable particles are only partially embedded within said uncured core portion; then (c) curing said uncured core portion.
2. The hybrid medical implant of claim 1 wherein said core portion comprises a fluid-filled elastomeric shell.
3. The hybrid medical implant of claim 1 wherein said core portion comprises a solid elastomeric body.
4. The hybrid medical implant of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric core portion comprises silicone.
5. A hybrid medical implant of claim 1 wherein said bioabsorbable particles comprises an antibiotic.