Method of making metal implants
AssigneeAccentus Medical Limited
InventorsMartin Edward Lee Pickford, Andrew Derek Turner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A metal implant for use in a surgical procedure is provided with a surface layer that is integral with the metal substrate, and which incorporates a biocidal material. The surface layer may be grown from the metal substrate, by anodizing, and the biocidal material incorporated in it by ion exchange. Alternatively the layer may be deposited by electroplating, followed by diffusion bonding so as to become integral with the metal substrate. In either case, silver is a suitable biocidal material; and both the release rate and the quantity of biocidal material should be low to avoid toxic effects on body cells. Electropolishing the surface before formation of the surface layer is also beneficial, and this may be achieved by electropolishing.
Claims16
A method of making an implant for use in a surgical procedure, the implant comprising a metal substrate, wherein the metal substrate is of a titanium alloy or zirconium, and wherein the implant comprises an anodised surface layer containing biocidal metal ions absorbed by ion exchange, such that, after implantation, leaching of the biocidal metal ions kills bacteria in the vicinity of the implant and suppresses infection, and the method comprising the successive steps of:
- (A) forming a surface layer on the substrate which is integral with the metal substrate by growing the layer by an anodising process that is carried out using a solution of phosphoric acid, wherein the surface layer comprises a phosphate;
- (B) rinsing the surface layer on the substrate;
- and
- (C) contacting the surface layer on the substrate with a solution that contains biocidal metal ions, so as to absorb biocidal metal ions by ion exchange into the surface layer, thereby forming a phosphate comprising at least one biocidal metal ion, wherein after contacting with the solution that contains biocidal metal ions, the implant is ready to be implanted.
A method of making an implant for use in a surgical procedure, the implant comprising a metal substrate, wherein the metal substrate is of a titanium alloy or zirconium, and wherein the implant comprises an anodised surface layer containing biocidal metal ions absorbed by ion exchange, such that after implantation leaching of the biocidal metal ions kills bacteria in the vicinity of the implant and suppresses infection, and the method consists essentially of the successive steps of:
- (A) forming a surface layer on the substrate which is integral with the metal substrate by growing the layer by an anodising process that is carried out using a solution of phosphoric acid, wherein the surface layer comprises a phosphate;
- (B) rinsing the surface layer on the substrate;
- and
- (C) contacting the surface layer on the substrate with a solution that contains biocidal metal ions, so as to absorb biocidal metal ions by ion exchange into the surface layer, thereby forming a phosphate comprising at least one biocidal metal ion, wherein after contacting with the solution that contains biocidal metal ions, the implant is ready to be implanted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.