US5370694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Zirconium oxide and nitride coated endoprostheses for tissue protection
Assignee: Smith and Nephew Inc
•
Filing: 1993-01-19
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2013-01-19
Abstract
Abstract Medical implants of zirconium or zirconium-based alloy coated with blue or blue-black zirconium oxide or zirconium nitride to provide low friction, highly wear resistant coatings especially useful in hemiarthroplasty applications such as unipolar artificial joints, including unipolar hip joints or surface replacements, knee joints, shoulder joints, elbows, spinal segments, fingers, etc. The zirconium oxide or nitride coated prostheses also provide a barrier against implant corrosion caused by galvanic coupling with other metal components or in vivo ionization of the metal prosthesis.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Davidson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0077; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/30; A61F2/30767; A61F2/32; A61F2/36; A61F2/3609; A61F2/40; 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; A61F2/3804; A61F2/4059; A61F2/4081; A61F2/44; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30084; A61F2002/30107; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30474; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30899; A61F2002/30902; A61F2002/365; A61F2/3662; A61F2002/3678; A61F2002/368; A61F2/4014; A61F2002/4018; A61F2/42; A61F2/4241; A61F2002/4243; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0009; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; 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: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An endoprosthesis for implantation in a recipient after hemiarthroplasty, the endoprosthesis having a coated bearing surface for slidingly cooperating against body tissue of a recipient, the endoprosthesis comprising: (a) an endoprosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy, the endoprosthesis body forming one component of a two-component joint and having a bearing surface at least a portion of which is adapted to cooperate with and slide against body tissue of a second joint component; and (b) a thin coating, of thickness from about 1 to about 25 microns, applied directly on at least the portion of the bearing surface adapted to cooperate and slide against the body tissue, the coating selected from the group consisting of blue-black zirconium oxide, black zirconium oxide and zirconium nitride; wherein the coating minimizes metal ion release, friction and wear at interfaces between the coated bearing surface and the body tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An endoprosthesis for implantation in a recipient after hemiarthroplasty, the endoprosthesis having a coated bearing surface for slidingly cooperating against body tissue of a recipient, the endoprosthesis comprising: (a) an endoprosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy, the endoprosthesis body forming one component of a two-component joint and having a bearing surface at least a portion of which is adapted to cooperate with and slide against body tissue of a second joint component; and (b) a thin coating, of thickness from about 1 to about 25 microns, applied directly on at least the portion of the bearing surface adapted to cooperate and slide against the body tissue, the coating selected from the group consisting of blue-black zirconium oxide, black zirconium oxide and zirconium nitride; wherein the coating minimizes metal ion release, friction and wear at interfaces between the coated bearing surface and the body tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 1 wherein the bearing surface is a femoral head of a hip joint endoprosthesis adapted to cooperate with and slide against cartilaginous tissue of a pelvis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 2 wherein the coating covers entire outer surfaces of the femoral head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 3 wherein the coating thickness is from about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 1 wherein the bearing surface is a head of a humeral implant adapted to cooperate with natural body tissue of a glenoid of a recipient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 5 wherein the coating covers entire outer surfaces of the humeral head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 6 wherein the coating thickness is from about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 1 wherein the bearing surface is a bearing surface of a glenoid endoprosthesis adapted to cooperate with natural tissue of a humerus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 8 wherein the coating covers the entire outer surface of the glenoid head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 9 wherein the coating thickness is from about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 1 wherein the bearing surface is a bearing surface of at least one condyle of a femoral component of a knee joint endoprosthesis adapted to cooperate against natural tissue of a tibia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 11 wherein the coating covers entire outer surfaces of the condyle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 12 wherein the coating thickness is from about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 1 wherein the bearing surface is a bearing surface of a tibial component of a knee joint endoprosthesis adapted to cooperate with natural tissue of condyles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 14 wherein the coating covers entire outer surfaces of the tibial component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endoprosthesis of claim 15 wherein the coating thickness is from about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
143 words
An endoprosthesis for implantation in a recipient after hemiarthroplasty, the endoprosthesis having a coated bearing surface for slidingly cooperating against body tissue of a recipient, comprising: (a) an endoprosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy, the endoprosthesis body forming one component of a two-component joint and having a bearing surface at least a portion of which is adapted to cooperate with and slide against body tissue of a second joint component; and (b) a thin coating, of thickness from about 1 to about 10 microns, applied directly on at least the portion of the bearing surface adapted to cooperate and slide against the body tissue, the coating selected from the group consisting of blue-black zirconium oxide, and black zirconium oxide; wherein the coating minimizes metal ion release, friction and wear at the interface between the coated bearing surface and the body tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
143 words
An endoprosthesis for implantation in a recipient after hemiarthroplasty, the endoprosthesis having a coated bearing surface for slidingly cooperating against body tissue of a recipient, comprising: (a) an endoprosthesis body formed of zirconium or zirconium alloy, the endoprosthesis body forming one component of a two-component joint and having a bearing surface at least a portion of which is adapted to cooperate with and slide against body tissue of a second joint component; and (b) a thin coating, of thickness from about 1 to about 10 microns, applied directly on at least the portion of the bearing surface adapted to cooperate and slide against the body tissue, the coating selected from the group consisting of blue-black zirconium oxide, and black zirconium oxide; wherein the coating minimizes metal ion release, friction and wear at the interface between the coated bearing surface and the body tissue.
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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) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |