Document Type

Patent

Publication Date

6-25-1996

Patent Number

patent number 5529736

Abstract

The present invention is directed to polymeric bone fixation devices and processes for making the devices. In making the bone fixation devices, a polymeric material having a crystalline portion is deformed by a compressive force along a particular direction which causes molecular chains contained within the polymer to orient. The resulting polymer has increased mechanical properties including increased tensile strength and modulus. The polymeric material used to make the bone fixation device can be a bioabsorbable polymer which, once implanted, is broken down and absorbed by the patient's body, eliminating the need for removal.

Application Number

08/288343

Assignees

Clemson University (Clemson, SC)

Filing Date

1994-08-10

Primary/U.S. Class

264/162

Other/U.S. Class

264/322, 264/323, 264/348

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