Methods for shaping and finishing prosthetic joint components including polycrystalline diamond compacts
AssigneeDiamicron, Inc.
InventorsRichard H. Dixon, Louis M. Pope
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Abstract
A method of rough shaping a prosthetic joint component that includes a generally spherical polycrystalline diamond compact by electric discharge machining is disclosed. The discharge machining electrode roughens a polycrystalline diamond compact sphere while the electrode and the sphere are rotating about different axes. By controlling the amount of discharge current, the depth and amount of the heat affected zone can be minimized. In the case of a polycrystalline diamond compact, the heat affected zone can be kept to about 3 to 5 microns in depth and is easily removable by grinding and polishing.
Claims10
A method for rough shaping a prosthtetic joint component that includes a generally spherical polycrystalline diamond compact, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a rotator having a longitudinal axis, said rotator being capable of rotating a part about said longitudinal axis,
- (b) obtaining an electro-discharge machining electrode that has a longitudinal axis, said electro-discharge machining electrode being capable of rotating about its longitudinal axis,
- (c) orienting said rotator and said electro-discharge machining electrode with respect to each other so that said electro-discharge machining electrode longitudinal axis and said rotator longitudinal axis are at an angle β with respect to each other,
- (d) attaching a prosthetic joint component that includes a polycrystalline diamond compact to said rotator,
- (e) rotating said joint component about said rotator longitudinal axis,
- (f) rotating said electro-discharge machining electrode about said electro-discharge machining electrode longitudinal axis, and
- (g) removing material from said prosthetic joint component by use of said electro-discharge machining electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.