AMxTek announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) 'Notice of Allowance' regarding claims pertaining to the US patent, entitled: Methods of Using Water-Soluble Inorganic Compounds for Implants.
The patent provides for the use of inorganic compounds, more specifically bioactive glass, to enhance osteostimulative bone ingrowth and provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial implant prophylaxis. The intellectual property has broad clinical application in the fields of orthopedic trauma, reconstruction and revision surgery, as well as spinal and dental implants.
The intellectual property provides for the release of calcium and other osteostimulative ions, upon the dissolution of bioactive glass, which up-regulates osteoblast growth factor gene expression and bone matrix deposition.
When such bioactive glass incorporates silver-oxide compounds its dissolution releases ionic silver, which provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial implant prophylaxis. The technology therefore provides for osteoblast stimulated implant fixation and antimicrobial prophylaxis.
AMxTek president Jim Walls noted by combining bioactive glass of differing solubilities, particle size and/or silver concentration, one can custom-tailor antimicrobial elution kinetics to correspond with the clinical need.
"The high temperature stability of bioactive glass also accommodates various implant terminal sterilization methods, including autoclave, without adversely affecting or degrading the osteostimulative and/or antimicrobial properties of the implant," Walls added.
AMxTek will be seeking business development, co-development or other commercial opportunities for the intellectual property. Continuing application filings, based upon the original US patent application, are envisioned.