Porous flexible metal fiber material for surgical implantation

[54] POROUS FLEXIBLE METAL FIBER MATERIAL FOR SURGICAL IMPLANTATION

[76] Inventor: Paul Ducheyne, 27 Haymarket La., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010

[21] Appl. No.: 854,700

[22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1986

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 661,772, Oct. 17, 1984, abandoned.

[51] Int. CI." A61F 2/28; A61F 2/02

[52] U.S. CI 623/16; 623/66;

623/11

[58] Field of Search 623/16, 22, 23, 66,

623/11

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Rostoker et al., "Some Mechanical Properties of Sintered Fiber Metal Composites", 1974, pp. 107-112.

Primary Examiner—Richard J. Apley
Assistant Examiner—Alan W. Cannon
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sherman and Shalloway

[57] ABSTRACT

Titanium or other biocompatible metal fibers having a diameter of from about 20 to about 200 fim, a length of from about 2 to 50 mm and a length-to-diameter ratio of at least about 100 are formed into a flexible and deformable mass, for example, a sheet, of interlocked fibers, which may be sintered for additional coherence, to a thickness of from about 0.5 to 30 mm. The amount of fibers is such that the sheet has a voids volume of at least 65%, preferably about 90%. The diameter of the pores of the porous sheet are at least about 150 urn such that bony tissue can grow in the pores. These porous sheets are highly malleable without loss of structural integrity or pore size distribution. Accordingly, the porous metal fiber mesh sheets are useful for stabilizing prosthetic devices or for general repair of defective bone structures.

3,906,550 9/1975 Rostoker et al. 4,365,357 12/1982 Draenert

3/1.913 X 3/1.91

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures