Surface and near surface hardened medical implants
US5372660A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 26, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 26, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S623/923
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Surface and near surface hardened medical implants are provided. These implants are fabricated from titanium alloys that contain an amount of zirconium sufficient to permit the formation of a significant amount of zirconium oxide at the surface of the implant to cause surface hardening. Further, the zirconium-containing titanium alloy implants are characterized in having an alloy core with an oxygen-rich layer surrounding the core, and a surface layer, overlying the oxygen-rich layer, including mixed oxides of the metals present in the alloy. A zirconium-rich interface may sometimes be present between the oxygen-rich layer and the mixed-oxide surface layer. The method of producing these surface hardened implants includes the steps of heating the implant in an oxygen containing environment at a temperature sufficient to allow oxygen to diffuse to and react with the implant surface and near surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.