Abstract: Monoblock orthopedic and/or dental implants are disclosed. The monoblock implants include a ceramic articulating surface and an osseointegrative bone-contacting surface. Methods of making such implants also disclosed.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant including an articulation portion having a pyrolytic carbon bearing surface and a porous bone on- or in-growth structure, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: Methods for bonding a porous tantalum structure to a substrate are provided. The method includes placing a compressible or porous interlayer between a porous tantalum structure and a cobalt or cobalt-chromium substrate to form an assembly. The interlayer comprising a metal or metal alloy that has solid state solubility with both the substrate and the porous tantalum structure. Heat and pressure are applied to the assembly to achieve solid state diffusion between the substrate and the interlayer and the between the porous tantalum structure and the interlayer.

Abstract: A prosthetic device having a generally fixed member formed from a low friction material such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and an articulating titanium member, which includes an articular bearing surface. The articular surface is a zirconium oxide layer formed by applying a coating of zirconium onto the titanium member and heating this in an oxygen-containing environment. This causes the zirconium to oxidize and further causes the zirconium to migrate into the titanium member forming a titanium zirconium diffusion layer, which prevents delamination.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant including an articulation portion having a pyrolytic carbon bearing surface and a porous bone on- or in-growth structure, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: A method for bonding a porous tantalum structure to a substrate is provided. The method comprises providing a substrate comprising cobalt or a cobalt-chromium alloy; an interlayer consisting essentially of at least one of hafnium, manganese, niobium, palladium, zirconium, titanium, or alloys or combinations thereof; and a porous tantalum structure. Heat and pressure are applied to the substrate, the interlayer, and the porous tantalum structure to achieve solid-state diffusion between the substrate and the interlayer and between the interlayer and the porous tantalum structure.

Abstract: A process for forming a ceramic layer comprising a compound of a metal on a deposition surface of a workpiece comprises providing a reactive gas, selecting the amounts of a vapor of the metal and ions of the metal relative to each other, generating the metal vapor, and projecting an ion beam of the metal ions. The metal vapor, the metal ions, and the reactive gas form the ceramic layer with a desired structure. The process may include the step of controlling a deposition surface temperature. In one embodiment, the metal vapor comprises zirconium vapor and the ion beam comprises zirconium ions. The relative amounts of the zirconium vapor and the zirconium ions are selected to form a zirconia ceramic layer on the deposition surface. The zirconia may have multiple crystal phases that are formed according to a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant having a thermally treated ceramic coating and a method of producing a coated prosthetic implant. The ceramic coating is deposited onto the prosthetic implant such as by a plasma spray coating process. The prosthetic implant is thermally treated in a low oxygen environment to increase the hardness and wear-resistance of the ceramic coating for improved articulation of the prosthetic implant.

Abstract: One embodiment of the system and method described herein provides a vehicle loyalty system that gathers data on an individual's or a household's vehicles and analyzes purchase and disposal records within a particular time frame relative to the purchase date of each unique vehicle to determine brand and related loyalties. The system and method offer unique window definitions surrounding each purchase record such that data straddling a study time frame will still be caught and analyzed.

Abstract: Monoblock orthopedic and/or dental implants are disclosed. The monoblock implants include a ceramic articulating surface and an osseointegrative bone-contacting surface. Methods of making such implants also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for bonding a porous tantalum structure to a substrate is provided. The method comprises providing a substrate comprising cobalt or a cobalt-chromium alloy; an interlayer consisting essentially of at least one of hafnium, manganese, niobium, palladium, zirconium, titanium, or alloys or combinations thereof; and a porous tantalum structure. Heat and pressure are applied to the substrate, the interlayer, and the porous tantalum structure to achieve solid-state diffusion between the substrate and the interlayer and between the interlayer and the porous tantalum structure.

Abstract: A method for bonding a porous tantalum structure to a substrate is provided. The method comprises providing a substrate comprising cobalt or a cobalt-chromium alloy; an interlayer consisting essentially of at least one of hafnium, manganese, niobium, palladium, zirconium, titanium, or alloys or combinations thereof; and a porous tantalum structure. Heat and pressure are applied to the substrate, the interlayer, and the porous tantalum structure to achieve solid-state diffusion between the substrate and the interlayer and between the interlayer and the porous tantalum structure.

Abstract: A process for forming a ceramic layer comprising a compound of a metal on a deposition surface of a workpiece comprises providing a reactive gas, selecting the amounts of a vapor of the metal and ions of the metal relative to each other, generating the metal vapor, and projecting an ion beam of the metal ions. The metal vapor, the metal ions, and the reactive gas form the ceramic layer with a desired structure. The process may include the step of controlling a deposition surface temperature. In one embodiment, the metal vapor comprises zirconium vapor and the ion beam comprises zirconium ions. The relative amounts of the zirconium vapor and the zirconium ions are selected to form a zirconia ceramic layer on the deposition surface. The zirconia may have multiple crystal phases that are formed according to a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A process for forming a ceramic layer comprising a compound of a metal on a deposition surface of a workpiece comprises providing a reactive gas, selecting the amounts of a vapor of the metal and ions of the metal relative to each other, generating the metal vapor, and projecting an ion beam of the metal ions. The metal vapor, the metal ions, and the reactive gas form the ceramic layer with a desired structure. The process may include the step of controlling a deposition surface temperature. In one embodiment, the metal vapor comprises zirconium vapor and the ion beam comprises zirconium ions. The relative amounts of the zirconium vapor and the zirconium ions are selected to form a zirconia ceramic layer on the deposition surface. The zirconia may have multiple crystal phases that are formed according to a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A method for bonding a porous tantalum structure to a substrate is provided. The method comprises providing a substrate comprising cobalt or a cobalt-chromium alloy; an interlayer consisting essentially of at least one of hafnium, manganese, niobium, palladium, zirconium, titanium, or alloys or combinations thereof; and a porous tantalum structure. Heat and pressure are applied to the substrate, the interlayer, and the porous tantalum structure to achieve solid-state diffusion between the substrate and the interlayer and between the interlayer and the porous tantalum structure.

Abstract: Methods for bonding a porous tantalum structure to a substrate are provided. The method includes placing a compressible or porous interlayer between a porous tantalum structure and a cobalt or cobalt-chromium substrate to form an assembly. The interlayer comprising a metal or metal alloy that has solid state solubility with both the substrate and the porous tantalum structure. Heat and pressure are applied to the assembly to achieve solid state diffusion between the substrate and the interlayer and the between the porous tantalum structure and the interlayer.

Abstract: One embodiment of the system and method described herein provides a vehicle loyalty system that gathers data on an individual's or a household's vehicles and analyzes purchase and disposal records within a particular time frame relative to the purchase date of each unique vehicle to determine brand and related loyalties. The system and method offer unique window definitions surrounding each purchase record such that data straddling a study time frame will still be caught and analyzed.

Abstract: A method for producing a zirconia-layered orthopedic implant component includes depositing zirconium onto the orthopedic implant component, thereby forming a zirconium-layered component, and converting at least a portion of the zirconium into a substantially monoclinic zirconia surface layer unaccompanied by a substantial underlying ?-phase. A method for producing a zirconia-layered orthopedic implant component includes depositing zirconium onto the orthopedic implant component by ion bombardment and deposition in a vacuum to form a zirconium-layered component including an intermix zone at least 1000 ? thick and a zirconium layer about 3-5 ?m thick, and heat treating the zirconium-layered component at a temperature of about 500-600° C. in an atmosphere containing oxygen.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant having a thermally treated ceramic coating and a method of producing a coated prosthetic implant. The ceramic coating is deposited onto the prosthetic implant such as by a plasma spray coating process. The prosthetic implant is thermally treated in a low oxygen environment to increase the hardness and wear-resistance of the ceramic coating for improved articulation of the prosthetic implant.

Abstract: A method for bonding a porous tantalum structure to a substrate is provided. The method comprises providing a substrate comprising cobalt or a cobalt-chromium alloy; an interlayer consisting essentially of at least one of hafnium, manganese, niobium, palladium, zirconium, titanium, or alloys or combinations thereof; and a porous tantalum structure. Heat and pressure are applied to the substrate, the interlayer, and the porous tantalum structure to achieve solid-state diffusion between the substrate and the interlayer and between the interlayer and the porous tantalum structure.