Hydrogel Technology

Intellectual property portfolio covering hydrogels and methods of manufacture. Hydrogel implant technology originally developed for use as a nucleus replacement of intervertebral spinal discs. Hydrogel has extensive pre-clinical data. Multiple patents with claims directed to the hydrogel technology.  Potential opportunity to leverage IP into other clinical applications.

Advantages of technology/know-how

Forms a high strength hydrogel medical implant by causing it to gel by physically cross-linking the solution, which adjusts the equilibrium hydrogel crystallinity to ensure that the swelling pressure of the hydrogel remains stable. The surface of the hydrogel is then cross-linked and then rinsed and sterilized. A spinal implant for replacing the natural nucleus of the disc made from a polymer such as hydrogel having a radiopaque material located within the polymer. A method and apparatus for injecting an elastic spinal implant into a cavity in a spinal disc to treat disc degeneration. An elastic spinal nucleus prosthesis is very quickly inserted into the cavity through a small opening in the disc so that permanent deformation of the prosthesis is avoided.

Patents