IMPLANTATION OF PROSTHETIC DEVICES

摘要

Prosthetic devices are prepared for subepithelial implantation by coating their surfaces with a coating (30) comprising crosslinked or uncrosslinked fibronectin. If the surface of the device comprises a material which does not normally bind fibronectin, it is pretreated, for example, by coating with poly(L-lysine). The coated prosthetic device is implanted by removing a portion of the epithelium (12), affixing the coated device to the subepithelial tissue optionally replacing all or part of the removed epithelium, and allowing new epithelial tissue to grow over and affix itself to the surface of the prosthetic device. The method of the invention can be used to implant contact lenses permanently beneath the epithelium of the cornea (10).