Ion beam modification of bioactive ceramics to accelerate biointegration of said ceramics
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsCheryl Blanchard, Geoffrey Dearnaley, James Lankford, Jr.
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Abstract
The present invention provides for faster and stronger tissue-implant bonding by treating a ceramic implant with an ion beam to modify the surface of the ceramic. The surface modification can give the ceramic improved ion-exchange properties depending upon the particular ceramic and the type of ions used. In a preferred embodiment, a bioactive ceramic orthopaedic, dental, or soft tissue implant is bombarded with a beam of cations. When implanted in the body, the surface modification causes an increase in the release of critical ions, such as calcium or phosphorus, from the surface of the ceramic implant, and thereby accelerates implant-tissue bond formation.
Claims38
A process for increasing the bioactivity and improving the biointegration of a bioactive ceramic implant comprising treating said ceramic implant with ions in a vacuum at a dose and energy sufficient to form a biologically-active calcium hydrocarbonate apatite layer on the surface of said ceramic implant.
A process for increasing the bioactivity of an amorphous or glass-ceramic oxide orthopaedic or dental implant, said process comprising bombarding said implant in a vacuum of less than about 10.sup.-5 torr with at least about 10.sup.15 cations per cm.sup.2 at an energy of at least about 50 keV resulting in a dose sufficient to form a biologically-active calcium hydrocarbonate apatite layer on the surface of said ceramic implant.
A bioactive ceramic implant with increased bioactivity due to treatment of said implant with an ion beam in a vacuum at an energy and a dose sufficient to form a biologically-active calcium hydrocarbonate apatite layer on the surface of said ceramic implant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.