ORTHOPEDIC MIXTURES PREPARED BY SUPERCRITICAL FLUID PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

摘要

Orthopedic mixtures are prepared by mixing starting materials and a process medium (16) in a reactor (12) to form a supercritical fluid slurry. The starting materials include a source of calcium ions and a polymer matrix for the calcium ions. The process medium (16) preferably is carbon dioxide, which is supplied to the reactor (12) in a supercritical state. After mixing for a period of time, the slurry either is left in the reactor (12) or is discharged into a receiving vessel (14). The process medium (16) is separated from the other materials and removed. Leaving behind a finely divided product. The finely divided product can be used as a bone implant or a bone implant can be carved from the cured product. Alternatively, if an ultraviolet light-curable catalyst and a monomer are included in the mixture, the finely divided product can be used as bone filler and cured in situ. After curing, the mixture produces a dense, strong, porous product that simulates autogenic bone.