초록 ▼

A method for dehydrating a monolithic bone intended for implantation is provided. The method serves to conserve at least one of the biomechanical properties of the bone during the dehydration of the bone and its subsequent packaging. Also provided is a monolithic bone for implantation and a method o

A method for dehydrating a monolithic bone intended for implantation is provided. The method serves to conserve at least one of the biomechanical properties of the bone during the dehydration of the bone and its subsequent packaging. Also provided is a monolithic bone for implantation and a method of using the bone for the repair of damaged bone.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for dehydrating monolithic bone intended for implantation to conserve toughness of the bone during dehydration and subsequent packaging and maintain such toughness during storage of the bone, the method comprising: dehydrating the monolithic bone to less than about 6

What is claimed is: 1. A method for dehydrating monolithic bone intended for implantation to conserve toughness of the bone during dehydration and subsequent packaging and maintain such toughness during storage of the bone, the method comprising: dehydrating the monolithic bone to less than about 6 percent water content wherein dehydrating the monolithic bone consists of contacting the bone with at least one biocompatible dehydrating liquid and controlling pressure surrounding the monolithic bone during such contact; removing the dehydrating liquid; and packaging the dehydrated bone, wherein dehydrating the monolithic bone to less than about 6 percent water content is accomplished without lyophilizing, freeze drying, or oven drying the bone and wherein the conserved bone toughness is at least about 10% greater than that of a comparable specimen of monolithic bone which has been lyophilized. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein contacting the bone with at least one biocompatible dehydrating liquid and controlling pressure during such contact comprises infusing the dehydrating liquid under pressure. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein contacting the bone with at least one biocompatible dehydrating liquid and controlling pressure during such contact comprises infusing the dehydrating liquid under alternating levels of positive pressure. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein contacting the bone with at least one biocompatible dehydrating liquid and controlling pressure surrounding the monolithic bone during such contact comprises contacting the bone with at least one biocompatible dehydrating liquid in the presence of a low pressure atmosphere. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein contacting the bone with at least one biocompatible dehydrating liquid and controlling pressure surrounding the monolithic bone during such contact comprises contacting the bone with at least one biocompatible dehydrating liquid in the presence of alternating vacuum and positive pressure. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the dehydrating liquid is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, ethylbutanol, acetonitrile, pyridine, industrial methylated spirit, graded series of dehydrating agents, histological solution, Flex 1 OO™, dimethylsulfoxide, small ketones, acetone, chloroform, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, straight chain hydrocarbons of less than 12 carbons, hexane, pentane, low molecular weight alkenes, esters, ethers, ethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, crown ethers, aldehyde, solutions containing aldehydes, formaldehyde, formalin, super critical fluids, liquid carbon dioxide, liquid hydrogen sulfide, and mixtures of two or more of the above liquids. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein contacting the bone with at least one biocompatible dehydrating liquid comprises contacting the bone with a graded series of dehydrating liquids. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the dehydrating liquid comprises subjecting the bone to microwave energy. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling pressure comprises subjecting the bone to sub-atmospheric pressure in the absence of a desiccant. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the dehydrating liquid comprises subjecting the bone to ambient temperature at ambient pressure. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the dehydrating liquid comprises subjecting the bone to ambient temperature at sub-atmospheric pressure. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the dehydrating liquid comprises subjecting the bone to heat at ambient pressure. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the dehydrating liquid comprises subjecting the bone to heat at sub-atmospheric pressure. 14. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the dehydrating liquid comprises subjecting the bone to sub-atmospheric pressure in the presence of a desiccant. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the dehydrating liquid comprises subjecting the bone to sub-atmospheric pressure in the absence of a desiccant. 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after achieving dehydration of the monolithic bone to less than about 6 percent water content with the dehydrating liquid, further reducing the water content using a second dehydration step. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the conserved toughness is at least about 15% greater than that of a comparable specimen of monolithic bone which has been lyophilized.