Coating an implant for increased bone in-growth

A method of preparing an implant for bone in-growth comprising:

• providing a metal implant body, said metal implant body having a metal load bearing layer formed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the implant body, said metal load bearing layer having a plurality of pores therein, said pores configured to promote bone in-growth into said load bearing layer,
• providing calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate,
• providing a diluent,
• mixing said calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate and said diluent to form a calcium sulfate paste,
• applying said calcium sulfate paste to said load bearing layer such that said calcium paste substantially impregnates at least a portion of said pores and forms an excess layer of said calcium sulfate paste on an outer surface of said load bearing layer, and
• wiping said calcium sulfate paste to remove said excess layer and thereby expose said outer surface of said load bearing layer while leaving said calcium sulfate paste impregnated in said pores.