Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
An implantable bone prosthesis, prepared by the process of: a) depositing a layer of a powder material in a confined region; b) applying a binder material to the powder material in selected regions of the layer to solidify the powder material in the selected regions; c) repeating steps (a) and (b) a predetermined number of times to deposit successive layers of powder, with variations in regions to which binder material is applied such that a solidified portion of each layer is bonded to a preceding layer, to form a casting mold that defines a negative of the bone prosthesis, at least a portion of the casting mold having a textured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles corresponding to the variations of said regions; d) removing loose powder material from the casting mold; e) casting a material in contact with the casting mold and hardening the material to form a bone prosthesis; and f) removing the bone prosthesis from the casting mold, whereby outer surface of the bone prosthesis has cast thereinto a macrotextured surface characterized by macropores with undercut edge profiles on at least a portion thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
An implantable bone prosthesis, prepared by the process of: a) depositing a layer of a powder material in a confined region; b) applying a binder material to the powder material in selected regions of the layer to solidify the powder material in the selected regions; c) repeating steps (a) and (b) a predetermined number of times to deposit successive layers of powder, with variations in regions to which binder material is applied such that a solidified portion of each layer is bonded to a preceding layer, to form a casting mold that defines a negative of the bone prosthesis, at least a portion of the casting mold having a textured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles corresponding to the variations of said regions; d) removing loose powder material from the casting mold; e) casting a material in contact with the casting mold and hardening the material to form a bone prosthesis; and f) removing the bone prosthesis from the casting mold, whereby outer surface of the bone prosthesis has cast thereinto a macrotextured surface characterized by macropores with undercut edge profiles on at least a portion thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the cast thereinto macrotextured surface comprises macropores having a diameter of about 150 to 600 micrometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the cast thereinto macrotextured surface comprises macropores having a diameter of between 250 and 350 micrometers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 2 having porosity in the range of about 30 to 60 percent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 2 having porosity in the range of about 40 percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bone prosthesis prepared according to claim 1 wherein the bone prosthesis is a femoral stem for an artificial hip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The bone prosthesis prepared according to claim 1 wherein the bone prosthesis is an acetabular shell component of an artificial hip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the bone prosthesis is a tibial plateau of an artificial knee.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the bone prosthesis is a femoral component of an artificial knee.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the macropores are shaped as spatial complements of an array of protruding undercut macrofeatures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 10 wherein the macrofeatures are selected from among bridges, hooks, ridges, depressions, dimples and tunnels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 1 wherein different regions of the implantable article bear macrotextures of different types.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 12 wherein the macrotextures are each effective to enhance at least one of bone growth, fixation, shear strength and tensile strength.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bone prosthesis of claim 1 wherein at least some undercut edges are interconnected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
173 words
A bone prosthesis comprising an implantable article having outer bone engaging surface, at least a portion of which bears an integral as-cast macrotextured surface, the prosthesis prepared by the process of: applying a three-dimensional printing process to form a green casting mold by successive applications of a binder material to a ceramic forming powder to bond at least some of the powder together into a solid body forming said green casting mold, at least a portion of the green casting mold having a macroporous textured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles; removing non-bonded powder material from the green casting mold; firing the green casting mold to yield a ceramic casting mold; casting a molten metal against the ceramic casting mold and allowing the molten metal to harden in contact with the casting mold to form the bone prosthesis, at least a portion of an outer surface of the bone prosthesis thereby having cast thereinto a macrotextured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles; and separating the bone prosthesis from the casting mold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
A bone prosthesis comprising an implantable article having outer bone engaging surface, at least a portion of which bears an integral as-cast macrotextured surface, the prosthesis prepared by the process of: applying a three-dimensional printing process to form a green casting mold by successive applications of a binder material to a ceramic forming powder to bond at least some of the powder together into a solid body forming said green casting mold, at least a portion of the green casting mold having a macroporous textured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles; removing non-bonded powder material from the green casting mold; firing the green casting mold to yield a ceramic casting mold; casting a molten metal against the ceramic casting mold and allowing the molten metal to harden in contact with the casting mold to form the bone prosthesis, at least a portion of an outer surface of the bone prosthesis thereby having cast thereinto a macrotextured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles; and separating the bone prosthesis from the casting mold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
199 words
An implantable bone prosthesis, prepared by the process of: a) depositing a layer of a powder material in a confined region; b) applying a binder material to the powder material in selected regions of the layer to solidify the powder material in the selected regions; c) repeating steps (a) and (b) a predetermined number of times to deposit successive layers of powder, with variations in regions to which binder material is applied such that a solidified portion of each layer is bonded to a preceding layer to form a texture plate having on at least a portion of one surface thereof a textured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles; d) removing loose powder material from the texture plate; e) affixing the texture plate within a mold-forming assembly; f) forming a casting mold using the mold-forming assembly; g) casting a molten metal against the casting mold and allowing the molten metal to harden in contact with the casting mold to form the bone prosthesis, at least a portion of an outer surface, of the bone prosthesis thereby having cast thereinto a macrotextured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles; and h) separating the bone prosthesis from the casting mold.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
199 words
An implantable bone prosthesis, prepared by the process of: a) depositing a layer of a powder material in a confined region; b) applying a binder material to the powder material in selected regions of the layer to solidify the powder material in the selected regions; c) repeating steps (a) and (b) a predetermined number of times to deposit successive layers of powder, with variations in regions to which binder material is applied such that a solidified portion of each layer is bonded to a preceding layer to form a texture plate having on at least a portion of one surface thereof a textured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles; d) removing loose powder material from the texture plate; e) affixing the texture plate within a mold-forming assembly; f) forming a casting mold using the mold-forming assembly; g) casting a molten metal against the casting mold and allowing the molten metal to harden in contact with the casting mold to form the bone prosthesis, at least a portion of an outer surface, of the bone prosthesis thereby having cast thereinto a macrotextured surface including macropores with undercut edge profiles; and h) separating the bone prosthesis from the casting mold.