A method for producing a sliding surface element on the basis of UHMWPE for a joint endoprosthesis includes mixing UHMWPE in powder form with 0.09 to 0.11% by weight of an antioxidant, compacting the UHMWPE mixed with the antioxidant into a molded body, manufacturing one or more sliding surface elements from the molded body by material-removing machining, and irradiating the sliding surface element by gamma radiation or X-ray radiation with a radiation dose of 25 to 45 kGy in order to crosslink the UHMWPE. The method can be practiced without thermal post-treatment of the irradiated sliding surface element.

The invention relates to a scaffold material comprising a plurality of particles of a highly porous polymeric material, characterized in that said scaffold material becomes a shapeable paste once hydrated. The specific features of the particle material impart a special behavior to the scaffold, which can be easily shaped and even highly reversibly compressed, so that in certain aspects it can, if needed, be injected, said capacity to be shaped being maintained over a high range of hydration conditions. A particular aspect of the invention relates, therefore, to the use of such scaffold material for the manufacturing of shapeable body implants, such as breast implants, to the shapeable body implants themselves as well as to non-invasive methods for using thereof in creating or reconstructing a three-dimensional volume in a subject's body part.

The present invention disclosed a process to coat the surface of flexible polymeric implant with biocompatible polymer such that the coating does not crack when the implant is subjected to mechanical forces such as tension, torsion or bending while retaining the inherent properties of the coated polymer.

One aspect of the invention provides a method of preventing or reducing stenosis in a subject. The method includes implanting a passivated graft comprising vein into an artery. The implanting of the graft replaces and/or bypasses a diseased segment of the artery. The passivated grail including vein is prepared by exposing the exterior surface of the passivated graft comprising vein to a tissue structure stabilizing agent (“TSSA”) under conditions sufficient to promote cross-linking of proteins within the vein.

A leaflet for a heart valve replacement includes poly(glycerol sebacate) urethane. A heart valve replacement includes a leaflet including poly(glycerol sebacate) urethane. A process forms a leaflet for a heart valve replacement. The process includes casting a first solution including poly(glycerol sebacate) and isocyanate to form a leaflet composition including poly(glycerol sebacate) urethane. The process also includes shaping the leaflet composition to form the leaflet.

The present invention relates to methods for making wear and oxidation resistant polymeric materials by high temperature melting. The invention also provides methods of making medical implants containing cross-linked antioxidant-containing tough and ductile polymers and materials used therewith also are provided.

Injectable composition in hydrogel form, comprising water, hyaluronic acid, and nicotinamide for inhibiting the action of the hyaluronidase in the injected condition of the composition.

The present invention provides a dental product comprising a base material formed of a zirconia sintered body, and having high aesthetic quality with enhanced fracture toughness and with reduced chipping and cracking in the porcelain layer. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing such a dental product. The present invention relates to a dental product comprising: a base material formed of a zirconia sintered body, and a porcelain layer, wherein the porcelain of the porcelain layer has a suitable firing temperature of 900° C. or more, and the porcelain layer has a fracture toughness value of 1.20 MPa.Math.m.sup.0.5 or more.

A method of making infused bone fibers employs the following steps: cutting or shaving whole bone into bone fibers, washing the bone fibers, demineralizing or decalcifying at least partially the whole bone or bone fibers and infusing the bone fibers with a supernatant of biologic material or a polyampholyte cryoprotectant or a combination of both to create infused bone fibers. The step of infusing includes exposing the bone fibers to a negative pressure or vacuum to draw the supernatant and/or the polyampholyte cryoprotectant into the bone fibers, or alternatively, exposing the demineralized whole bone to a positive pressure to drive the supernatant and/or the polyampholyte cryoprotectant into the bone. The resultant method creates an infused bone grafting composition having bone fibers taken from whole bone, demineralized or decalcified at least partially and infused with one or more of a supernatant of biologic material or a polyampholyte cryoprotectant or both.

The present invention generally provides implantable articles and methods of forming implantable articles from a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) blend stabilized with Vitamin E. The crosslinked UHMWPE blend may be prepared by combining the UHMWPE material and vitamin E prior to irradiating the UHMWPE blend with electron beam radiation at a sufficient radiation dose rate to induce crosslinking. The crosslinked UHMWPE blend may be incorporated into a variety of implants, and in particular, into endoprosthetic joint replacements.