Abstract: A method to use a novel structured metal-ceramic composite powder to improve the surface electrical conductivity of corrosion resistant metal substrates by thermal spraying the structured powder onto a surface of a metallic substrate is disclosed. The structured powder has a metal core and is wholly or partially surrounded by an electrically conductive ceramic material such as a metal nitride material. The metal cores may have the ceramic material formed on them prior to a thermal spraying process performed in an inert atmosphere, or the thermal spraying may be performed in a reactive atmosphere such that the ceramic coating forms on the cores during the thermal spraying process and/or after deposition. The metal cores will bond conductive ceramic material onto the surface of the substrate through the thermal spray process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coating composition which includes a component A and component B. Component A is either an emulsion or dispersion having a hydrophobic elastomer stabilized with at lease one emulsifier. Component B is a dispersion or solution of a hydrophilic polymer which is insoluble in water, swellable in water and soluble in one or more water-miscible solvents. The hydrophobic elastomers may be polymers or copolymers of butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene, styrene, acrylonitrile, ethylene, propylene, isobutylene, alkylacrylates and alkylmethacrylates; polyrethanes, polyureas, polysiloxanes, elastomeric polyamides and polyesters. The hydrophilic polymers may be segmented polyurethanes, segmented polyures, segmented polyesters, partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl acetate), partially hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, partially aminolyzed polyacrylonitrile, and ethylene glycol monomethacrylate.

Abstract: A hydrophilic coating composition used to impart increased lubricity and wettability to the surface of a hydrophobic substrate which is comprised of three essential components:1) Hydrogel-forming polymer component A2) Water-soluble polymer component B3) Common solvent C for the components A and BThe water-insoluble, hydrogel-forming component A consists of a segmented copolymer with long, hydrophilic terminal blocks and the essentially hydrophobic central section. The two polymer components A and B have a limited miscibility in the absence of a common solvent C. Therefore, their blend tends to separate spontaneously into two polymer phases. The phase separation takes place during the solvent evaporation or extraction. A gradient of hydrophilicity and swelling within the coating layer is thus spontaneously created achieving a good adhesion to the substrate and high surface hydrophilicity at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention is a spinal nucleus implant for replacement of at least a portion of nucleus pulposus tissue removed from a spinal disc of a living vertebrate to restore function of the spinal disc and related vertebral joint. The implant is an anisotropically swellable, biomimetic xerogel plastic, having a two phase structure with a hydrophobic phase having high crystallinity and low water content and with hydrophilic phase having low crystallinity and high water content and having a negatively charged lubricious surface. The xerogel plastic is capable of rehydration and of osmotic movement of liquid therethrough in response to osmotic pressure change to thereby increase and decrease liquid content in its hydrated state. The present invention also relates to surgical implant procedures utilizing this spinal nucleus implant.