Process of making a bone healing device

摘要

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.