CONTINUOUS, HIGH STRENGTH HYDROXYAPATITE FIBER

该第一阶段计划旨在开发实验室规模的流程，以 制备高强度、连续的羟基磷灰石纤维。一个 羟基磷灰石纤维将在骨替代中有许多用途 应用，特别是对材料的强度和韧性要求较高的应用 一种完全生物相容的材料。机织羟基磷灰石织物 纤维可作为骨生长的支架材料。增强复合材料 利用羟基磷灰石纤维可以在高负荷区域替代骨 还可用于替换高密度的薄片 这将需要一定程度的坚韧。现有光纤处理和 纺织技术将有助于形成羟基磷灰石纤维。 形成模拟替换骨骼的形状。材料的力学性能 羟基磷灰石植入物将被量身定做以模仿各向异性 骨骼的属性，因此对活的宿主骨骼的输入应力将是 越自然越好。预计任何耐磨产品 羟基磷灰石复合材料不会引起不良组织反应 有时，目前正在使用的生物材料也是如此。 实验室生产纤维的过程是基于溶胶-凝胶的。 这项技术已经成功地使几个商业上可行 近几年来的产品。将进行小规模试验， 将测量纤维的组成和抗拉强度。使用 这些结果将被设计成一个连续的工艺流程，并且它的可行性 测试过。这些第一阶段的结果将构成整个流程的基础 第二阶段的发展。

This Phase I program seeks to develop a laboratory scale process to fabricate a high strength, continuous hydroxyapatite fiber. A hydroxyapatite fiber would find many uses in bone replacement applications especially those requiring high strength and toughness in a completely biocompatible material. Fabrics of woven hydroxyapatite fiber could be used as scaffolds for bone ingrowth. Composites reinforced with the hydroxyapatite fiber could replace bone in highly loaded areas and would also be useful in replacement of thin sections where a high degree of toughness would be required. Existing fiber handling and textile technologies would be useful to form the hydroxyapatite fiber into shapes simulating the replaced bone. Mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite implants would be tailored to mimick the anisotropic properties of bone so that input stresses to living host bone would be as natural as possible. It is anticipated that any wear products of hydroxyapatite composites would not cause adverse tissue reactions as is sometimes the case with biomaterials currently in use. The laboratory process to make the fiber is based on the sol-gel technique which has been successful in making several commercially viable products in recent years. Small scale trials will be performed and the composition and tensile strength of the fiber will be measured. With these results a continuous process will be designed and its feasibility tested. These Phase I results will form the basis for full process development in Phase II.