US 5,084,151 A · Method and apparatus for forming prosthetic device having a biocompatible carbon film thereon

Abstract

A prosthetic device which includes a biocompatible carbon film firmly adherent to a substrate. The carbon preferably is turbostratic and is preferably very thin, e.g., less than about one micron. The thin carbon biocompatible film is dense and covers at least that portion of the substrate which will be in contact with body tissue and/or fluids to insure against physiological rejection and degradation of the prosthetic device. The carbon can be deposited on a variety of substrates, including low temperature substrates, in situ, without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the substrate. The prosthetic device of the invention is formed by triode sputtering vacuum deposition at a relatively low temperature to achieve the desired results with respect to the deposited carbon and the substrate and with respect to the required adherence therebetween.

Claims20

Dependent claims

The method of forming a prosthetic device having a substrate, comprising:

forming a plasma beam and directing the beam toward a carbon cathode circumscribed by an anode, the cathode and anode being remote from the site of formation of the plasma beam,
sputtering the carbon cathode by said beam while cooling the cathode and anode and operating the cathode at a high voltage and a low current;
directing said sputtered carbon onto a substrate at a temperature of below about 250.degree. C. without degradation to form a biocompatible carbon coating firmly adhered on the substrate, and
operating the method at a pressure of about 10.sup.-4 mbar to about 10.sup.-2 mbar.

1 more element

Apparatus for depositing a film of biocompatible carbon firmly adherent to a substrate of a prosthetic device, comprising:

(a) a first chamber for receiving an inert gas;
(b) means in said first chamber for ionizing the inert gas and issuing a plasma beam therefrom;
(c) a second chamber open and connected to said first chamber at one end thereof for receiving the plasma beam, and including a carbon cathode positioned at the other end of said second chamber remote from said one end, an annular anode circumscribing said carbon cathode, means about said second chamber for collimating the plasma beam and directing the collimated plasma beam toward said carbon cathode to sputter carbon atoms therefrom, and means mounted in said second chamber for holding a substrate and moving the substrate in the path of the sputtered carbon to form a firmly adherent carbon coating thereon;
(d) means within and about said second chamber for operating said second chamber at a low pressure;
(e) electrical means connected to said cathode for operating the cathode at a high voltage and low current;
(f) heating means positioned in said second chamber and in proximity of the substrate for heating the substrate to a desired level;
and
(g) means for cooling the carbon cathode and anode.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for forming prosthetic device having a biocompatible carbon film thereon

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for forming prosthetic device having a biocompatible carbon film thereon

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20