Abstract: A mixture of two particulate phases used in the production of a green compact that can be sintered at higher temperatures. The first phase contains particles that consist of a metal and/or a metal allow and/or a metal compound. The second phase contains particles from the group of the inorganic compounds that do not release any decomposition products at temperatures of more than 400° C., that are interstitially soluble in the sintering metal phase, and/or that react with the second phase to stable compounds. The mixture, by providing the second phase, is effective in supporting the fine structure of the first phase against the forces of surface tensions during the sintering process. During sintering, the second phase remains thermally stable and substantially chemically inert with respect to the first phase.

Abstract: A brushite cement for surgical purposes includes a first component including a basic calcium phosphate, a second component including an acidic phosphate, a third component including water, and a fourth component including a source of magnesium used to stabilize an end-product of the setting reaction between the components. The solubility of the source of magnesium is smaller than 100 g/L. The components are chosen in such an amount that (i) the pH of the cement past during setting is lower than 6.0; and (ii) the end-product of the setting reaction comprises dicalcium phosphate dihydrate.

Abstract: A composition including a hydraulic cement for implantation in a human or animal body. The hydraulic cement includes a first component, a second component, and a third component. The first component includes a calcium source while the second component includes water. The third component is a hydrophobic liquid. The composition hardens after mixing of the components, and results in a cement with open macroporosity enabling a rapid bone ingrowth.

Abstract: The cement for surgical purposes includes three components. The first component includes beta tertiary calciumphosphate &bgr;-Ca3(PO4)2(&bgr;-TCP) particles; and monocalcium phosphate Ca(H2PO4)2(MCPA) or monocalcium phosphate monohydrate Ca(H2PO4).H2O (MCPM) particles or phosphoric acid. The second component includes water. The third component includes particles having an average diameter which is larger than the average diameter of the beta tertiary calciumphosphate &bgr;-Ca3(PO4)2(&bgr;-TCP) particles of the first component. Upon mixing of the three components a hardened mass comprising brushite CaHPO4.2H2O (DCPD) is formed. The &bgr;-TCP particles have a specific surface area of less than 10,000 m2/g and a Ca/P atomic ratio different from 1.50. The component constitutes 1 to 99 volume-percent of the hardened mass.

Abstract: A hip-joint socket having an outer shell (1) with a central axis (7) that is to be anchored in the hip bone. The outer shell is detachably mounted, in a geometrically locking manner, on a plastic intermediate shell (1a) exhibiting a hollow-spherical inner side (2). The hip-joint socket also has a wear-resistant inner shell (3) with a spherical outer side (4) and a central axis (8) that is designed to receive a joint ball of a femur shaft. The outer side (4) of the inner shell (3) can be undetachably mounted in a geometrically locking manner to rest against the inner side (2) of the intermediate shell (1a) such that the two central axes (7, 8) coincide. Mutually engaging elements are present at the inner shell and intermediate shell (3 resp. 1a) that consist, on one hand, of a prismatic salient (5) configured at the vertex (9) of the inner shell (10) on the outer side (4) and, on the other hand, of a prismatic recess (6) configured at the vertex (10) of the intermediate shell (1a) on the inner side (2).

Abstract: An artificial cotyloid socket having a domal outer shell (1) and a domal inner shell (2) subtending between them a cavity (3). Each of the outer and inner shells (1, 2) having a domal wall that merges into a rim (5, 6). The outer and inner shells are undetachably joined to each other at their rims (5, 6). The rim of the outer shell is reinforced and disposed relatively beneath a circle of merging (7). The circle of merging is defined by the intersection of the outer shell domal wall and the outer shell rim. A thickness of the wall continuously increases as one moves from a pole (4) of the outer shell toward the circle of merging (7).