Cardiovascular implants of enhanced biocompatibility
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorJames A. Davidson
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Abstract
Medical leads fabricated from low-modulus Ti-Nb-Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The medical leads may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. It is contemplated that the Ti-Nb-Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any portion of a medical lead that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.
Claims26
A biocompatible lead for conducting electrical signals to or from an organ in a living body, the lead having enhanced hemocompatibility, comprising:
- an elongate flexible body having distal and proximal ends and an electrically conductive core for conducting electrical signals, the core at least partially fabricated from a biocompatible and hemocompatible metal alloy, the alloy comprising:
- (i) titanium;
- and
- (ii) niobium selected from a non-continuous range of about 10 to about 20 wt. % niobium and from about 35 to about 50 wt % niobium.
A biocompatible lead for conducting electrical signals to or from an organ in a living body, the lead having enhanced hemocompatibility, comprising:
- an elongate flexible body having distal and proximal ends and an electrically conductive core for conducting electrical signals, the core at least partially fabricated from a biocompatible and hemocompatible metal alloy, the alloy comprising:
- (i) titanium;
- and
- (ii) niobium and tantalum, with a combined wt. % of niobium and tantalum selected from a non-continuous range of about 10 to about 20 wt. % and from about 35 to about 50 wt. %.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.