Zirconium oxide zirconium nitride coated valvular annuloplasty rings
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Davidson, Kenneth P. Daigle
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Abstract
An annuloplasty ring fabricated from a component of a low elastic modulus metal coated with blue to black zirconium oxide or yellow to orange zirconium nitride. The coating provides enhanced thrombogenicity, biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, corrosion-resistance, friction and microfretting resistance, durability, and electrical insulation. The coatings can be applied to the underlying low modulus metallic components by physical or chemical vapor deposition as well as other ion-beam assisted methods. Preferably, however, for optimizing attachment strength, the annuloplasty ring components are fabricated from zirconium or zirconium-containing alloys and the coatings are formed by oxidizing or nitriding through an in situ method.
Claims13
An annuloplasty ring for implantation in living body tissue of a patient, the annuloplasty ring having enhanced resistance to wear, comprising:
- (a) at least one component fabricated from a low elastic modulus metallic composition, the elastic modulus being less than about 130 GPa and the component having outer surfaces;
- and
- (b) a corrosion-resistant, biocompatible, hemocompatible, hard, durable, stable coating at least partially covering the outer surfaces of said component, said coating selected from the group consisting essentially of zirconium oxides, ranging in color from blue to black, and zirconium nitrides, ranging in color from yellow to orange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.