Appeal No. 2001-0611
Application No. 08/742,733
thereto. According to Moumene (see the Abstract), the beam
is made from an elongated core formed of chopped carbon
fibers embedded in a thermoplastic polymer matrix.
Encasing the core is a sheath formed of carbon
reinforced filament fibers embedded in the
thermoplastic polymer which is wound in spiral
formation around the core and molded thereto. The
winding angle and the sheath thickness along the beam
may be varied to vary the modulus of elasticity to
match that of the cortical bone adjacent thereto.
Moumene states that “[i]f desired, the mold [for making the
implant] may include a roughened surface to impart such a surface
to the outer surface of the prosthesis, such as for fixation
enhancement by tissue ingrowth” (column 8, lines 32-35).
Bokros relates to a prosthetic device “having an exterior
surface portion of carefully controlled and uniform porosity so
as to promote the ingrowth of tissue and/or bone structure and
thereby create long-lasting joinder” (column 1, lines 34-37).
This is accomplished through the use of helical coil metal
springs secured to the exterior surface of the prosthesis.
According to Bokros, “the use of helical coil springs has been
found not only to provide a ready and relatively inexpensive
solution to the problem but to also provide a porous surface
region the porosity of which can be precisely controlled” (column
2, lines 15-19). More particularly, porosity can be controlled
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