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US 6,488,715 B1Granted
Diamond-surfaced cup for use in a prosthetic joint
AssigneeDiamicron, Inc.
InventorsBill J. Pope, Jeffrey K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail, Kenneth M. Jensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a diamond-surfaced cup for use in a prosthetic joint.
Claims96
An acetabular cup comprising:
- a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact,
- a substrate located on said polycrystalline diamond compact, said substrate including a metal,
- diamond table sintered to said substrate,
- a gradient transition zone between said substrate and said diamond table in said polycrystalline diamond compact, said gradient transition zone having a substrate side and a diamond table side, said gradient transition zone having both solvent-catalyst metal and diamond therein, and said gradient transition zone exhibiting a transition of ratios of percentage content of solvent-catalyst metal to diamond from one side of said gradient transition zone to another such that at a first point in said gradient transition zone near said substrate side, the ratio of percentage content of solvent-catalyst metal to diamond is greater than it is at a second point in said gradient transition zone closer to said diamond side than said first point,
- chemical bonds between said diamond table and said substrate which tend to secure said diamond table to said substrate, and
- a load bearing and articulation surface on said polycrystalline diamond compact, said load bearing and articulation surface including polycrystalline diamond, said load bearing and articulation surface being formed to present a shape that is at least partially concave spherical and against which a femoral head may articulate.
3 more elements
An acetabular cup comprising:
- a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact,
- a substrate located on said polycrystalline diamond compact, said substrate including a metal,
- a diamond table sintered to said substrate,
- a gradient transition zone between said substrate and said diamond table in said polycrystalline diamond compact,
- chemical bonds in said gradient transition zone, and
- a load bearing and articulation surface on said polycrystalline diamond compact, said load bearing and articulation surface including polycrystalline diamond, said load bearing and articulation surface being formed to present a shape that is at least partially concave spherical and against which a femoral head may articulate.
3 more elements
An acetabular cup comprising:
- a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact,
- a substrate located on said polycrystalline diamond compact, said substrate including a metal,
- a diamond table sintered to said substrate,
- a gradient transition zone between said substrate and said diamond table in said polycrystalline diamond compact,
- chemical bonds in said compact,
- a load bearing and articulation surface on said polycrystalline diamond compact, said load bearing and articulation surface including polycrystalline diamond, said load bearing and articulation surface being formed to present a shape that is at least partially concave spherical and against which a femoral head may articulate, and
- a residual stress field that tends to enhance the strength of attachment of said diamond table to said substrate;
- wherein diamond in said polycrystalline diamond compact has a coefficient of thermal expansion CTECd, and wherein said substrate has a coefficient of thermal expansion CTEsub, and wherein CTECd is not equal to CTEsub, wherein said diamond in said polycrystalline diamond compact has a modulus MCd, and wherein said substrate in said polycrystalline diamond compact has a modulus Msub, and wherein MCd, is not equal to Msub;
- wherein said residual stress field is caused by dilitation of said substrate.
6 more elements
An acetabular cup comprising:
- a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact,
- a substrate located on said polycrystalline diamond compact, said substrate including a metal,
- a diamond table sintered to said substrate,
- a gradient transition zone between said substrate and said diamond table in said polycrystalline diamond compact,
- chemical bonds in said compact,
- interstitial spaces in said diamond table,
- solvent-catalyst metal present in said interstitial spaces,
- diamond to solvent-catalyst metal chemical bonds in said diamond table,
- a load bearing and articulation surface on said polycrystalline diamond compact, said load bearing and articulation surface including polycrystalline diamond, said load bearing and articulation surface being formed to present a shape that is at least partially concave spherical and against which a femoral head may articulate,
- a mechanical grip between said diamond table and said substrate which tends to secure said diamond table to said substrate, and
- a residual stress field that tends to enhance the strength of attachment of said diamond table to said substrate;
- wherein diamond in said polycrystalline diamond compact has a coefficient of thermal expansion CTECd, and wherein said substrate has a coefficient of thermal expansion CTEsub, and wherein CTECd is not equal to CTEsub, wherein said diamond in said polycrystalline diamond compact has a modulus MCd, and wherein said substrate in said polycrystalline diamond compact has a modulus Msub, and wherein MCd, is not equal to Msub;
- wherein said compact has been formed by high pressure and high temperature sintering;
- wherein said residual stress field is caused by dilitation of said substrate following sintering;
- wherein said chemical bonds include diamond-to-diamond bonds in said diamond table, diamond-to-metal bonds in said gradient transition zone, and metal-to-metal bonds in said solvent-catalyst metal;
- and
- wherein at least some of said chemical bonds are sp3 carbon bonds.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.