Metal implants
AssigneeAccentus Medical Limited
InventorsMartin Pickford, David Lewis, Andrew Turner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A metal implant for use in a surgical procedure is provided with a surface layer that is integral with the metal substrate, and which incorporates a biocidal material. The surface layer is grown by anodising at a voltage between 50 and 150 V, and the biocidal material incorporated in it by ion exchange. This produces a significantly harder surface than anodising at low voltage, and generates pits containing ion-absorbing material.
Claims6
A method of treating a titanium metal implant for use in a surgical procedure, so as to form a surface layer that is integral with the metal substrate and which incorporates a biocidal material, wherein the method comprises anodising the implant at a voltage above 50 V for a period of at least 30 min, so as to generate a surface layer, and then performing ion exchange so as to incorporate ions of a biocidal metal into the surface layer.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the anodising step uses an electrolyte comprising phosphoric acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.