Abstract: Biocompatible artificial tendon or ligament prostheses having an exterior adherent coating of vapor deposited carbon, comprising a strand of a plurality of fibers each of which is designed to sustain a tensile strain of about 5 percent or less and means for attaching the strand at the implantation site.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint including a socket-carrying member and a ball-carrying member both of which have stems for insertion into the medullary canals of the bone. The socket has a downwardly extending cylindrical passageway which terminates in a hemispherical bottom surface and a slot which intersects the passageway. The stem of the ball member has generally flat side surfaces and is proportioned to fit through the slot, and the ball has a curvature matching the spherical bottom surface. A shank portion between the ball and stem has a recess where a retainer is snapped onto the shank to lock the members in hinged relationship.

Abstract: An improved prosthetic device having its exterior surface formed to provide a region of controlled porosity to promote the ingrowth of bone and/or tissue. A metal coil spring is secured to a metal substrate at a plurality of points, as by being disposed in a groove having a depth about equal to the loop diameter of the spring. Adjacent loops of the spring are preferably spaced apart from one another, and adjacent side-by-side spring sections may be interleaved with one another, with the interleaved loops being affixed to each other by common bonds at their points of junction.

Abstract: A device to provide access to the circulatory system of a living body includes a conduit and a housing integrally associated with the conduit and having fluid communication therewith through an aperture in a wall common to both. The housing extends the fluid communication to a point outside the living body. Inside the housing is a movable valve body which has a port alignable with the aperture. The valve body is movable in the housing between positions of alignment and non-alignment of the aperture and the port to selectively establish fluid communication between the circulatory system and the outside of the living body. At least the surfaces of all parts of the device that contact blood and tissue are made of biologically compatible material.

Abstract: Bearing or seal devices are made by coating graphite substrate material with carbon by a vapor deposition process and selectively removing this vapor-deposited carbon from a portion of the coated substrate to expose the underlying graphite. A strong, self-lubricating surface adapted for contact with a relatively movable object is produced.

Abstract: Fluidized bed process for coating materials with pyrolytic carbon. A gaseous atmosphere including a carbonaceous substance is flowed upward through a vertical heated enclosure to fluidize a bed of particles therein. An exit conduit extends into the particle bed and a controlled flow of inert gas is fed through the conduit to regulate the exit passage of particles from the bed. Additional particles are added to the bed from above.

Abstract: A device for treating human blood prior to its return to a living human body. The blood filter employs a bed of fibers between about 1 and 100 microns in diameter, the outer surface of which is formed of impermeable carbon. Suitable fibrous substrates may be coated with vapor-deposited pyrolytic carbon, and the fibers may be supported between upper and lower screens which are likewise coated.

Abstract: A dental prothesis for permanent or prolonged implantation in a jawbone of a living body comprising a carbon root having specified properties including a modulus of elasticity of about 4.times.10.sup.6 psi, and an adherent, porous polymeric coating having specified properties and which is adapted to interface with bone.

Abstract: A pyrolytic carbon-coated article having improved wear resistance as a result of providing a thin wear-resistant layer just below the outer surface. The layer contains an alloy of pyrolytic carbon and a metal or metalloid carbide and is made by changing the composition in a deposition region without halting deposition so as to create transition regions adjacent the layer which include gradually lesser amounts of the alloying carbide.

Abstract: A biocompatible prosthetic device comprising a metal alloy substrate, an intermediate layer of a high-temperature polymer which is strongly bonded thereto, and an exterior coating of dense vapor-deposited carbon. The carbon layer is thromboresistant and strongly adheres to the intermediate layer which in turn strongly adheres to the metal alloy. The polymer may be the reaction product of pyromelletic dianhydride and a diaminodiphenyl ether, and the carbon may be deposited under high vacuum conditions from a suitably heated carbon source, e.g., by ion-plating or vacuum vapor deposition.