NON-METALLIC IMPLANT DEVICE AND INTRA-OPERATIVE METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY AND FIXATION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide non-metallic implants and intra-operative methods for intra-operative assembly and fixation of orthopedic implants to facilitate medical treatment in orthopedic implants and methods of treating bone defects. SOLUTION: The non-metallic implant assembly can be secured to underlying tissue by a fastener, such as a bone screw, that is capable of swelling on contact with fluid in the underlying tissue. Alternatively, the non-metallic implant assembly can be assembled intra-operatively using a fastener that is adhesively bonded to a bone plate or the bone plate can be deformed using heat, force, or solvents to inhibit withdrawal of the fastener. In preferred embodiments, both the fastener and the bone plate are formed of biodegradable material. The bone plate 300 extends from the first lumbar vertebra 302 to the third lumbar vertebra 304. The bone plate 300 can be preoperatively or intra-operatively deformed to conform to a desired anatomical structure. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT