Abstract: A ceramic-metal composite articulation is provided with substantial elimination of wear debris, wherein a ceramic material is provided with superior mechanical properties tailored for articulating with ceramic articulations having high flexural strength (greater than about 700 MPa), high fracture toughness (greater than about 7 MPam1/2) and a high Weibull modulus (greater than about 20), in comparison with presently available bio-ceramics such as alumina or zirconia. The mechanical property enhancement enables ceramic materials with greater reliability and significantly reduced in-vivo fracture risk to be obtained. Preliminary in-vitro wear performance, to several million cycles using established test protocols, of head/cup components in a prosthetic hip joint made from these ceramics also demonstrates the ultra low wear characteristics.

Abstract: An electrosurgical knife is provided with an improved surface coating designed for substantially non-stick hemostatic cutting of soft patient tissue. The electrosurgical knife includes a conductive knife blade adapted for connection to a suitable high frequency current source for electrocauterizing tissue at the point of contact to prevent or minimize bleeding. The knife blade includes the improved surface coating formed on at least a cutting edge thereof, wherein the outer surface of the coating includes a relatively non-stick constituent such as an aromatic hydrocarbon in combination with a relatively hard constituent such as a ceramic. The surface coating is additionally loaded with a substantially uniformly dispersed matrix of conductive material for transmitting the electrical energy to patient tissue primarily by conduction.

Abstract: An improved ceramic bone graft is provided for human implantation, particularly such as a spinal fusion cage for implantation into the inter-vertebral space between two adjacent vertebrae. The improved spinal fusion cage includes a substrate block of high strength ceramic having a selected size and shape to fit the anatomical space, and a controlled porosity analogous to natural bone. The substrate block is coated with a bio-active surface coating material such as hydroxyapatite or a calcium phosphate to promote bone ingrowth and enhanced bone fusion. Upon implantation, the fusion cage provides a spacer element having a desired combination of mechanical strength together with osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity to promote bone ingrowth and fusion, as well as radiolucency for facilitated post-operative monitoring. The fusion cage may additionally carry one or more natural or synthetic therapeutic agents for further promoting bone ingrowth and fusion.

Abstract: An improved ceramic bone graft is provided for human implantation, particularly such as a spinal fusion cage for implantation into the inter-vertebral space between two adjacent vertebrae. The improved spinal fusion cage includes a substrate block of high strength ceramic having a selected size and shape to fit the anatomical space, and a controlled porosity analogous to natural bone. The substrate block is coated with a bio-active surface coating material such as hydroxyapatite or a calcium phosphate to promote bone ingrowth and enhanced bone fusion. Upon implantation, the fusion cage provides a spacer element having a desired combination of mechanical strength together with osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity to promote bone ingrowth and fusion, as well as radiolucency for facilitated post-operative monitoring. The fusion cage may additionally carry one or more natural or synthetic therapeutic agents for further promoting bone ingrowth and fusion.

Abstract: An electrosurgical knife is provided with an improved surface coating designed for substantially non-stick hemostatic cutting of soft patient tissue. The electrosurgical knife comprises a conductive knife blade adapted for connection to a suitable high frequency current source for electrocauterizing tissue at the point of contact to prevent or minimize bleeding. The knife blade includes the improved surface coating formed on at least a cutting edge thereof, wherein the outer surface of the coating includes a relatively non-stick constituent such as an aromatic hydrocarbon in combination with a relatively hard constituent such as a ceramic. The surface coating is additionally loaded with a substantially uniformly dispersed matrix of conductive material for transmitting the electrical energy to patient tissue primarily by conduction.

Abstract: An electrosurgical knife is provided with an improved surface coating designed for substantially non-stick hemostatic cutting of soft patient tissue. The electrosurgical knife includes a conductive knife blade adapted for connection to a suitable high frequency current source for electrocauterizing tissue at the point of contact to prevent or minimize bleeding. The knife blade includes the improved surface coating formed on at least a cutting edge thereof, wherein the outer surface of the coating includes a relatively non-stick constituent such as an aromatic hydrocarbon in combination with a relatively hard ceramic constituent. The surface coating is additionally loaded with a substantially uniformly dispersed matrix of conductive material for transmitting the electrical energy to patient tissue primarily by conduction.

Abstract: An SOFC anode is provided, which is fabricated from ceria which has been mixed with a nickel oxide-magnesium oxide material to stabilize the nickel against coarsening during high temperature SOFC operation. With a starting material of NiO--MgO solid solution in a cement anode, the MgO will diffuse into zirconia and/or ceria at the appropriate firing temperature for the respective materials. Reduction of NiO in the anode with the fuel during cell operation will result in metallic Ni grains with a fine dispersion of MgO. The dispersion of MgO in Ni retards coarsening of nickel during the high temperature operation of the cell.

Abstract: An improved ceramic interconnect component for a solid oxide fuel cell having good electrical conductivity and thermodynamic stability in the presence of fuel and a coefficient of thermal expansion matching closely that of zirconia electrolytes is disclosed. The interconnect is a lanthanum chromite material including strontium and magnesium as dopants.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting electrical current from individual fuel cell stacks in a solid oxide fuel cell is provided, in which the current collectors are protected from oxidation through advantageous placement in non-oxidizing surroundings. Fuel cell module configurations employing and taking advantage of the current collecting apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A thermally integrated reformer (10) is located inside the stack furnace (12) housing stacks (14) of solid oxide fuel cells (16). The energy to support the endothermic reformation reaction converting hydrocarbon and water feedstock into hydrogen and carbon monoxide fuel is supplied by heat recovered from the oxidation process in the stack (14) of fuel cells (16). The source of hydrocarbons is desulfurized natural gas. Heat transfers to reformers (10) which may be incrementally shielded packed beds (30, 60) of the reactors (18, 19) of the reformer (10) by radiation from the stacks (14), furnace wall (38), or both and by forced convection from the exhausting airflow exiting the stack furnace (12). Temperature gradients in the reformer (10) may be controlled by selective (or incremented) radiation shielding (20) and by counterflow heat exchange to prevent excessive premature cracking in the reformer.

Abstract: A multi-stage arrangement for the electrolyte material in a SOFC electrochemical power system. Multiple stages may be arranged in series, and each stage contains electrolyte elements which are constructed of a different material from the elements in previous and subsequent stages. A fuel gas admitted to the power system flows serially through each stage and is then exhausted from the power system. Upstream stages contain electrolyte elements made from an electrolyte material having low ion conductivity and high resistance. Subsequent stages contain electrolytes having progressively higher conductivity and progressively lower resistance. The fuel exhaust from an upstream stage is fed to the next downstream stage until the gas is exhausted from the final stage in the power system. Each stage operates at a progressively lower temperature than the previous stage. In a three-stage embodiment, a first stage has ZrO.sub.2, electrolyte material, a second stage has CeO.sub.2, and a third stage has Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: An improved ceramic interconnect component for a solid oxide fuel cell having good electrical conductivity thermodynamic stability in the presence of fuel and a coefficient of thermal expansion matching closely that of zirconia electrolytes is disclosed. The interconnect is a lanthanum strontium chromate material containing minor quantities of calcia, and iron and, optionally, very minor quantities of cobalt, as dopants.

Abstract: A fuel cell module (10) with a fuel cell column (18), having at least one fuel cell stack, mated with the planar wall of a heat exchanger (60), wherein the fuel cell column and heat exchanger are mounted to a support structure (30), and which define an air plenum between the fuel cell column and planar wall of the heat exchanger, thereby eliminating the ductwork and insulation requirements associated with heat exchange systems while increasing the efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A fuel cell module (10) with multiple fuel cell stacks having generally planar cross-flow grooved interconnectors with fuel and air flow channels therein arranged in multi-stack columns (14, 16) wherein adjacent stacks are joined by manifold frames (24), and pairs of columns are spaced-apart across a central air plenum (28) in fluid communication with the air flow channels, and fuel flows serially through the stacks along the length of the column. In one embodiment, a series of such modules are configured into a multi-module system.

Abstract: A semi-internally manifolded interconnect structured for placement between successive electrolyte elements in stack of elements having a first surface with a level margin extending substantially around the perimeter of the interconnect, first and second manifold channels disposed inward from the margin, and a plurality of gas-flow channels disposed in a central area of the first surface and extending between and in fluid communication with the first and second manifold channels.

Abstract: A thermally integrated reformer (10) is located inside the stack furnace (12), housing stacks (14) of solid oxide fuel cells (16). The energy to support the endothermic reformation reaction converting hydrocarbon and water feedstock into hydrogen and carbon monoxide fuel is supplied by heat recuperated from the oxidation process in the stack (14) of fuel cells (16). The source of hydrocarbons is de-sulfurized natural gas. Heat transfers to the incrementally shielded packed beds (30, 60) of the reactors (18, 19) of the reformer (10) by radiation from the stacks (14) and furnace wall (38) and by forced convection from the exhausting airflow exiting the stack furnace (12). Temperature gradients in the reformer (10) are controlled by selective (or incremented) radiation shielding (20) and by counterflow heat exchange to prevent excessive premature cracking in the reformer where carbonization would clog interstices and render the catalyst granules (32) ineffective.

Abstract: A porous, creep-resistant, metal-coated, LiFeO.sub.2 ceramic electrode for fuel cells is disclosed. The electrode is particularly useful for molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) although it may have utilities in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) as well.

Abstract: A modular arrangement for stacks of ion conducting electrolyte elements includes a plurality of solid state ion conducting electrolyte elements spaced apart and arranged into stacks and the stacks further arranged at regular intervals around a central plenum. A plurality of gas flow passageways are disposed in the spaces between the electrolyte elements to enable reactant gases to circulate between the elements. A pair of manifold plates are disposed on either side of the electrolyte elements and sandwich the elements therebetween.

Abstract: A module for an ion-conducting device includes a plurality of spaced-apart, solid state ion-conducting electrolyte elements arranged substantially radially around a central plenum. A plurality of longitudinal gas flow channels is sealed off from the central plenum by a plurality of seals, and extend longitudinally through the module in the spaces between every other adjacent pair of electrolyte elements. A plurality of transverse gas flow channels is in fluid communication with the central plenum, and extend generally radially outward from it through the spaces between every-other adjacent pair of electrolyte elements not constituting a longitudinal gas flow channel. Manifold plates having a plenum aperture and a plurality of gas apertures therein are disposed on either side of the radially arranged electrolyte elements, and sandwich the elements therebetween.