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AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsGordon Hunter, Catherine M. Asgian, Gary L. Hines
Estimating the term…
A coating of blue-black or black oxidized zirconium of uniform and controlled thickness on a zirconium or zirconium alloy material is accomplished through the use of a single phase crystalline material substrate having an altered surface roughness. An oxidized zirconium coating of uniform and controlled thickness is especially useful on orthopedic implants of zirconium or zirconium-based alloys to provide low friction, highly wear resistant surfaces on artificial joints, such as, but not limited to, hip joints, knee joints, shoulders, elbows, and spinal implants. The uniformly thick oxidized zirconium surface of controlled depth on prostheses provide a barrier against implant corrosion caused by ionization of the metal prostheses. The invention is also useful in non-articulating implant devices such as bone plates, bone screws, etc.
A hip prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising:
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising:
A non-articulating medical implant comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy, said zirconium or zirconium alloy having a partial or complete coat of blue-black or black oxidized zirconium of uniform thickness, said zirconium or zirconium alloy having a single phase crystalline structure and uniform composition.
A knee prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.