Prosthesis with biologically inert wear resistant surface
OwnerFrederick F. Buechel, Michael J. Pappasinventors
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Abstract
A prosthesis is provided having at least a smooth non-articulating load bearing surface disposed adjacent a bone. The prosthesis includes a substrate formed from a metallic alloy. At least the regions of the substrate defining the load bearing surface are coated with a biologically inert abrasion resistant material harder than the substrate for preventing leaching of ions from the substrate into adjacent body tissue and for preventing wear. The coating may be titanium nitride or zirconium or other such material exhibiting biological inertness and acceptable hardness. The coating preferably defines a thickness of 8-10 microns.
Claims21
An orthopedic prosthesis formed from a metallic alloy and having at least one load bearing surface movably disposed adjacent to an opposed surface and at least one bone ingrowth surface, said prosthesis comprising a substrate formed from at least one selected metallic alloy and an abrasion resistant, biologically inert coating formed from a ceramic material harder than the substrate, said coating being ionically bonded to the substrate forming a unitary layer on portions of the prosthesis defining the load bearing surface and portions of the prosthesis defining the bone ingrowth surface, said coating defining a thickness of 8-10 microns.
A prosthetic device for biological fixation to a bone, said prosthetic device comprising a metallic alloy substrate, a first portion of said substrate defining a bone ingrowth surface area having a non-smooth surface configuration for increasing surface area and promoting bone ingrowth, a smooth articulating surface area spaced from the bone ingrowth surface area and a smooth load bearing surface area spaced from both the bone ingrowth surface area and the articulating surface area, the bone ingrowth surface area, the articulating surface area and the load bearing surface area all being provided with a unitary substantially biologically inert scratch resistant coating exhibiting greater hardness than the metallic alloy substrate for substantially preventing metallic ion release from the substrate and for preventing production of metallic wear debris, said biologically inert scratch resistant coating defining a thickness of 8-10 microns, whereby the coating prevents ion leaching from the substrate into adjacent tissue.
An orthopedic prosthesis comprising at least one substantially smooth non-articulating load bearing surface area for placement in proximity to a bone and at least one substantially smooth articulating load bearing surface area for articulation against another orthopedic prosthetic component, the orthopedic prosthesis comprising a substrate formed from a titanium alloy and a coating formed from a ceramic material comprising titanium ionically bonded to at least the non-articulating load bearing surface and the articulating load bearing surface of the orthopedic prosthesis to a thickness of 8-10 microns, whereby the ceramic coating defines a hardness greater than the substrate and substantially prevents abrasion of the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.