Prosthetic joint with diamond coated interfaces
AssigneeDiamicron, Inc.
InventorsBill J. Pope, Richard M. Garrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A prosthetic joint with polycrystalline diamond compact coated interfaces and a method for making the same are disclosed. The prosthetic joint has a diamond layer formed on at least one of the interacting, load-bearing surfaces of the joint. The diamond layer adds resistance to damage from impacts and, when polished, gives the joint a low coefficient of friction, thereby increasing the life of the joint. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the diamond layer is formed of polycrystalline diamond compact having a common diamond particle diameter of less than 1 micron to further reduce friction.
Claims7
A method of making a prosthetic joint having load-bearing surfaces which interact to enable rotation of one of the load-bearing surfaces relative to the other, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) coating at least one of the load-bearing surfaces with a polycrystalline diamond compact;
- and
- (b) bonding the compact to said diamond-coated load-bearing surface to form a diamond layer over said diamond-coated load-bearing surface;
- wherein step (b) comprises bonding a compact to a first of the load-bearing surfaces by using one of the group of processes consisting of a sintering process under high pressure and high temperature, a high temperature laser, chemical vapor deposition, electroplating and forming a matrix of high molecular weight polyethylene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.