Material and method to prevent low temperature degradation of zirconia in biomedical implants
US7037603B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/12618
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention is directed to a material and a method of producing the material that is unaffected by the low-temperature degradation, humidity-enhanced phase transformation typical of yttria-stabilized zirconia in general, as well as of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramic (Y-TZP). Because of the high fracture toughness and high mechanical strength, this class of materials is widely used, including as implants, such as for the packaging material for small implantable neural-muscular sensors and stimulators. The destructive phase transformation is eliminated by converting the surface to stable cubic or T-prime zirconia by post-densification thermal treatment in a cation-rich milieu.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.