Implant surfaces and treatments for wear reduction

Abstract

Methods and devices directed to surface treatment of implants are disclosed. In some instances, the surfaces are treated to have one or more characteristics that can impart low wear properties when the implant is utilized in a subject. As one example, a metallic surface of an implant can be treated to form pits in the surface, followed optionally by a smoothing step to reduce the roughness of the pitted surface. A plasma treatment can be used to form an oxide-containing layer (e.g., highly corrosion resistant and/or thick) on the surface. An acid treatment can also be used as part of a process for forming an oxide-containing layer. Other examples of method are also disclosed, along with characteristics of implant surfaces that can exhibit low wear properties.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.