US5037438A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Zirconium oxide coated prosthesis for wear and corrosion resistance
Assignee: Smith and Nephew Inc
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Filing: 1989-07-25
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Granted: 1991-08-06
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Expires: 2009-07-25
Abstract
Abstract Orthopedic implants of zirconium or zirconium-based alloy coated with zirconium oxide to provide low friction, highly wear resistant coatings especially useful in artificial joints, such as hip joints, knee joints, elbows, etc. The invention zirconium oxide coated prostheses are also useful in that the zirconium oxide coatings provide a barrier against implant corrosion caused by ionization of the metal prosthesis. Such protection can be extended by the use of oxidized porous coatings of zirconium or zirconium alloy beads or wire mesh into which bone spicules may grow so that the prosthesis may be integrated into the living skeleton.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Davidson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/0077; A61F2/30; A61F2/30767; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/02; A61L27/04; A61L27/047; A61L27/28; A61L27/30; A61L27/306; A61L29/00; A61L29/08; A61L29/10; A61L29/106; A61L31/00; A61L31/02; A61L31/022; A61L31/08; A61L31/082; A61L31/088; A61L33/00; A61L33/02; A61L33/027; A61F2/38; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30107; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0009; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00035; A61F2310/00089; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00592; A61F2310/00598; A61F2310/00634; A61F2310/00856; A61F2310/00892
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising: (a) a prosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy comprising an implant portion for inserting into the body tissue of the patient; (b) a bearing surface comprising at least one condyle on the prosthesis body; (c) a tibial component formed of an organic polymer or polymer-based composite and adapted to cooperate with the bearing surface; and (d) a thin coating of blue-black or black zirconium oxide directly on the bearing surface of the condyle portion for reducing wear of the organic polymer or polymer-based composite tibial component.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising: (a) a prosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy comprising an implant portion for inserting into the body tissue of the patient; (b) a bearing surface comprising at least one condyle on the prosthesis body; (c) a tibial component formed of an organic polymer or polymer-based composite and adapted to cooperate with the bearing surface; and (d) a thin coating of blue-black or black zirconium oxide directly on the bearing surface of the condyle portion for reducing wear of the organic polymer or polymer-based composite tibial component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said thin blue-black or black zirconium oxide coating is from about 1 to about 5 microns thick.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The prosthesis of claim 2 wherein the implant portion of the prothesis body further comprises an irregular surface structure adapted to accommodate tissue ingrowth on a portion of the prosthesis body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The prosthesis of claim 3 wherein the irregular surface structure is formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy beads attached to the outer surface of the prosthesis body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the beads is oxidized to blue-black or black zirconium oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The prosthesis of claim 3 wherein the irregular surface structure is formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy wire mesh connected to the outer surface of the prosthesis body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the mesh is oxidized to blue-black or black zirconium oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising: (a) a hip prosthesis body for implantation into a femor comprising a head portion formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy; (b) a bearing surface on the head portion of the prosthesis body; (c) an acetabular cup having an inner surface formed of an organic polymer or a polymer-based composite, said inner surface being adapted to cooperate with the bearing surface on the head portion; and (d) a thin coating of blue-black or black zirconium oxide directly on the bearing surface of the head portion for reducing wear of the acetabular cup inner surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising: (a) a hip prosthesis body for implantation into a femor comprising a head portion formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy; (b) a bearing surface on the head portion of the prosthesis body; (c) an acetabular cup having an inner surface formed of an organic polymer or a polymer-based composite, said inner surface being adapted to cooperate with the bearing surface on the head portion; and (d) a thin coating of blue-black or black zirconium oxide directly on the bearing surface of the head portion for reducing wear of the acetabular cup inner surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The prosthesis of claim 6 wherein said thin blue-black or black zirconium oxide coating is from about 1 to about 5 microns thick.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The prosthesis of claim 6 wherein the prosthesis body further comprises an irregular surface structure adapted to accommodate tissue ingrowth on a portion of the prosthesis body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The prosthesis of claim 8 wherein the irregular surface structure is formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy beads connected to the outer surface of the prosthesis body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the beads is oxidized to blue-black or black zirconium oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The prosthesis of claim 8 wherein the irregular surface structure is formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy wire mesh connected to the outer surface of the prosthesis body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the mesh is oxidized to blue-black or black zirconium oxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising: (a) a prosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy comprising an implant portion for insertion into the body tissue of the patient; (b) a bearing surface on the prosthesis body, the bearing surface being sized and shaped to engage or cooperate with a second bearing surface on another prosthesis portion, said second bearing surface being formed of an organic polymer or polymer-based composite; and (c) a coating of blue-black or black zirconium oxide from about 1 to about 5 microns in thickness on the bearing surface of the prosthesis body for reducing wear on the organic polymer or polymer-based second bearing surface of said another prosthesis portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising: (a) a prosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy comprising an implant portion for insertion into the body tissue of the patient; (b) a bearing surface on the prosthesis body, the bearing surface being sized and shaped to engage or cooperate with a second bearing surface on another prosthesis portion, said second bearing surface being formed of an organic polymer or polymer-based composite; and (c) a coating of blue-black or black zirconium oxide from about 1 to about 5 microns in thickness on the bearing surface of the prosthesis body for reducing wear on the organic polymer or polymer-based second bearing surface of said another prosthesis portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The prosthesis of claim 11 wherein the prosthesis body is a hip joint having a head portion as a bearing surface and wherein said another prosthesis portion is an acetabular cup, said head portion being adapted to cooperate with the inner surface of the acetabular cup, said inner surface comprising an organic polymer or polymer-based composite.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The prosthesis of claim 11 wherein the prosthesis body is a knee joint and the bearing surface of the prosthesis body comprises at least one condyle, and wherein said another prosthesis portion comprises a tibial component formed of an organic polymer or polymer-based composite, said at least one condyle being adapted to cooperate with the tibial component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The prosthesis of claim 11 wherein the prosthesis body further comprises an irregular surface structure adapted to accommodate tissue in growth on a portion of the prosthesis body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The prosthesis of claim 14 wherein the irregular surface structure is formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy beads connected to the outer surface of the prosthesis body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the beads is oxidized to blue-black or black zirconium oxide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The prosthesis of claim 14 wherein the irregular surface structure is formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy wire mesh connected to the outer surface of the prosthesis body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the mesh is oxidized to blue-black or black zirconium oxide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising: (a) a prosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy comprising an implant portion for inserting into the body tissue of the patient; (b) a bearing surface on the prosthesis body; (c) a counter-bearing surface formed of an organic polymer or polymer-based composite and adapted to cooperate with the bearing surface; and (d) a thin coating of blue-black or black zirconium oxide directly on the bearing surface for reducing wear of the organic polymer or polymer-based composite counter-bearing surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
87 words
A prosthesis for implantation in a patient, comprising: (a) a prosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy comprising an implant portion for inserting into the body tissue of the patient; (b) a bearing surface on the prosthesis body; (c) a counter-bearing surface formed of an organic polymer or polymer-based composite and adapted to cooperate with the bearing surface; and (d) a thin coating of blue-black or black zirconium oxide directly on the bearing surface for reducing wear of the organic polymer or polymer-based composite counter-bearing surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The prosthesis of claim 17 wherein said thin blue-black or black zirconium oxide coating is from about 1 to about 5 microns thick.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The prosthesis of claim 18 wherein the implant portion of the prothesis body further comprises an irregular surface structure adapted to accommodate tissue ingrowth on a portion of the prosthesis body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The prosthesis of claim 19 wherein the irregular surface structure is formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy beads attached to the outer surface of the prosthesis body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the beads is oxidized to blue-black or black zirconium oxide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The prosthesis of claim 19 wherein the irregular surface structure is formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy wire mesh connected to the outer surface of the prosthesis body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the mesh is oxidized to blue-black or black zirconium oxide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |