Process and apparatus for treating implants

• Main Authors: MICHAEL R. ROBERTS, JOHN R. BIANCHI, WESLEY I. LEWIS, MICHAEL J. ZINGARO, BENJAMIN R. SANDERS, CHANDRASEKARAN NATARAJ, C. RANDAL MILLS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.10.2010
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES, AS HERBICIDES; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; FISHING; FORESTRY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS; PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTSTHEREOF; TRAPPING

The present invention is directed to the field of implants that include soft tissue. More particularly, the present invention is directed to processes for treating implants that include soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments, and to implants produced by such processes. The present invention is also directed to processes and apparatus for improved processing of implants that include soft tissue, by applying kinematic restraint, preferably tension, to the implant or specific portions of the implants during the treatment, and to implants produced by such processes and apparatus. The present techniques yield soft tissue implants having superior structural, mechanical, and/or biochemical integrity.