Patent · US Expired

Zirconium oxide coated prosthesis for wear and corrosion resistance

US5037438A · kind A · utility

144Cited by
14References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 25, 1989
Grant dateAug 6, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 25, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2310/00892
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Orthopedic implants of zirconium or zirconium-based alloy coated with zirconium oxide to provide low friction, highly wear resistant coatings especially useful in artificial joints, such as hip joints, knee joints, elbows, etc. The invention zirconium oxide coated prostheses are also useful in that the zirconium oxide coatings provide a barrier against implant corrosion caused by ionization of the metal prosthesis. Such protection can be extended by the use of oxidized porous coatings of zirconium or zirconium alloy beads or wire mesh into which bone spicules may grow so that the prosthesis may be integrated into the living skeleton.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.