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US 12,070,391 B2Granted
Method for improving the wear performance of ceramic-polyethylene or ceramic-ceramic articulation couples utilized in orthopedic joint prostheses
AssigneeSINTX Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBryan J. McEntire, Ryan M. Bock
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Abstract
Methods for improving the wear performance of silicon nitride and/or other ceramic materials, particularly to make them more suitable for use in manufacturing biomedical implants.
Claims15
A method of preparing a silicon oxynitride material, wherein the silicon oxynitride material has improved wear performance, the method comprising:
- forming a silicon nitride material block;
- and
- oxidizing the silicon nitride material block,
- wherein oxidizing the silicon nitride material block is performed using hydrothermal oxidation in a steam autoclave,
- wherein the hydrothermal oxidation is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 100° C. to about 150° C.,
- wherein the hydrothermal oxidation is conducted at a pressure of about 1 atmosphere to about 5 atmospheres, and
- wherein the hydrothermal oxidation is conducted for a duration ranging from about 70 to about 150 hours.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.