Treating polymer coated implants

摘要

A method for chemically extracting the low-molecular weight chemical additives from a polymer e.g. PMMA coating formed on an orthopaedic implant comprises subjecting the implant to a solvent extraction process to remove residual materials such as DMPT, HQ, and MMA from the polymer mass. A solvent such as methanol or hot water does not attack the PMMA but effectively diffuses into the PMMA to extract out these unreacted and residual components. The removal of these components substantially inhibits discoloration and random chain scission in PMMA upon subsequent irradiation for sterilization purposes.