POROUS, DEGRADABLE IMPLANT MADE BY POWDER MOLDING

摘要

The present invention is directed to at least partially degradable implants and methods for the manufacture there of which use powder molding techniques. Specifically, the methods include the steps of providing a suspension comprising a plurality of first particles of at least one organic polymer; a plurality of second particles of at least one metal-based material which is at least partially biodegradable in-vivo; and at least one solvent; wherein the first and second particles are substantially insoluble in the solvent; molding the suspension to form a green body comprising the first particles embedded in a matrix of compressed second particles; removing the first particles from the green body by thermally induced decomposition and/or evaporation; and sintering the green body to form the implant; wherein the step of removing the first particles is performed during sintering.