摘要 |
<p>A medical implant useful in the regeneration of soft and hard connective tissue, such as cartilage and bone, which comprises a copolymer of a major amount of epsilon caprolactone and a minor amount of lactide. Where regeneration of bone tissue, in particular, is desired, the copolymer may further include osteogenic material in powdered or particulate form. If soft tissue regeneration is desired, the copolymer may include chopped carbon fiber. A mass of the copolymer, optionally including additives, may be molded by hand by heating the polymer to a temperature of 115-160oF, by, for example, immersion in hot water. The mass is then molded to the void to be filled or shape the regenerated tissue is desired to assume, and implanted in the patient. The mass is gradually replaced by regenerated tissue.</p> |