Ceramic prosthetic implant suitable for a knee joint plateau
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJerome J. Klawitter, Nazir A. Bhatti
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Abstract
A ceramic prosthesis of high aluminum oxide suitable for the tibial plateau of a knee joint with the superior (upper) portion of the prosthesis being of a high density AL.sub.2 O.sub.3 having a very low porosity and the inferior (lower) portion being of high density AL.sub.2 O.sub.3 having a high degree of porosity capable of accepting bone growth.
Claims7
A prosthesis comprising a porous layer having approximately 96 weight percent of aluminum oxide and a porosity in the range of 40-60% with interconnecting pores, laminated to a dense layer of approximately 96 weight percent of aluminum oxide having a porosity of not greater than 1 percent.
A prosthesis designed as an implant for the tibial plateau of a knee joint comprising:
- a. a first dense layer of high aluminum oxide ceramic material having a smooth outer surface to articulate with the femoral condyle;
- b. a second porous layer of high aluminum oxide ceramic material laminated to said first layer and having a planar surface adapted to engage said tibial plateau,
- c. said dense layer having a porosity not greater than 1 percent;
- and
- d. said porous layer having a porosity in the range of 40-60 percent with interconnecting pores of controlled pore size.
A completely ceramic prosthesis for use as a bone implant in a joint comprising:
- a. a layer of high aluminum oxide material having a porosity in the range of 40-60% with interconnecting pores;
- b. said layer having a planar surface;
- and
- c. a dense layer of high aluminum oxide material having a porosity not greater than 1% laminated to said first porous layer at said planar surface;
- d. the outer surface of said dense layer being smooth to act as an articulate surface in said joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.