Patent · US Expired

Zirconium oxide and nitride coated prosthesis for wear and corrosion resistance

US5180394A · kind A · utility

90Cited by
15References
21Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 1991
Grant dateJan 19, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 18, 2011

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 blue or blue-black zirconium oxide or zirconium nitride 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 or nitride coated prostheses are also useful in that the coatings provide a barrier against implant corrosion caused by ionization of the metal prosthesis. Such protection can be extended by the use of oxidized or nitrided 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.