Abstract: A new composition and medical implant made there from comprises a thick diffusion hardened zone, and layered ceramic surface. Orthopedic implants comprising the new composition, methods of making the new composition, and methods of making orthopedic implants comprising the new composition are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a gradient bioceramic coating comprising a rare earth oxide, a broadband laser method for preparing the bioceramic coating, and the use of the bioceramic coating in the field of medical materials.

Abstract: A biocompatible, self-supporting, curved, collagen membrane adapted to be secured by bone tacks or bone screws over exposed bone at a desired bone graft site in the alveolar ridge of a patient such that the membrane defines a space having a predetermined height and width over the exposed bone, in which the membrane maintains its structural integrity for at least 4 months after implantation at the bone graft site and then naturally breaks down and is resorbed by the patient's body, a method of making such a membrane, and a method of using such a membrane for vertical augmentation of the alveolar ridge of the patient.

Abstract: A cranial implant designed to fill a cranial defect of the skull of a mammal or a human, wherein the cranial implant is made of biocompatible ceramic and includes an implant body having a shape and size substantially matching the shape and size of the cranial defect to be filled, wherein the implant body includes an outer face facing outside the skull and an inner face facing inside the skull when the implant disposed on the skull, characterized in that the implant includes one or more reinforcing members protruding from the inner face of the implant body. A method of manufacturing the cranial implant is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric substrates comprising a biocompatible coating and methods of preparation thereof. In particular, the coating may be a ceramic material, especially a calcium phosphate material, which may be functionally graded. The invention provides the ability to apply high quality coatings to polymeric substrates without damaging the substrate (e.g., melting the polymeric material). The functionally graded coating can provide crystalline calcium phosphate near the coating interface with the substrate and provide amorphous calcium phosphate at the outer surface of the coating.

Abstract: Biocompatible material for bone repair, especially vertebral bone repair, preferably has three components. The first component is silicon nitride ceramic spheres or shells that can be polyhedral in shape. When grouped together, these ceramic spheres or shells form tessellates having a similar degree of stiffness, strain and stress resistance to cancellous bone. The second component comprises various bioactive factors that are preferably osteoconductive, osteoinductive and osteogenic. The third component is a liquid or gel that combines with the first and second components to form a composite.

Abstract: A biomaterial comprising a ceramic material, the ceramic material having a plurality of connecting micropores of an average diameter of between 1 ?m and 10 ?m, substantially evenly distributed through the biomaterial. The ceramic particles are preferably partially fused to one or more adjacent ceramic particles to form a lattice defining micropores. Each particle preferably has an average diameter of 1 ?m and 10 ?m and may comprise a plurality of elongated macropores having an average diameter of between 150 ?m and 500 ?m. Further, the material may additionally contain midi-pores which are substantially spherical and have an average diameter of 5 ?m and 150 ?m.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an implant for improving bone growth including an osteoconductive scaffold and an osteoinductive small molecule. The osteoconductive scaffold can further include a polymeric binder. The implant can also include an osteogenic material to provide a viable cell population to assist the bone repair and remodeling. Also disclosed is a system for forming an implant for improving bone growth, as well as methods for forming the implant according to the disclosure, in addition to methods of therapeutic use of the implant.

Abstract: A triphasic prosthetic device for repairing or replacing cartilage or cartilage-like tissue. The prosthetic device comprises a highly oriented hollow body component between a superficial random oriented polymer layer and a base component.

Abstract: Disclosed are a gradient bioceramic coating comprising a rare earth oxide, a broadband laser method for preparing the bioceramic coating, and the use of the bioceramic coating in the field of medical materials.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a medical implant component. The method may include the steps of producing a substrate from a first material wherein the substrate has a bearing portion, spraying particles of a second material onto the bearing portion in accordance with a predetermined spraying technique to provide a coating thereon, and subjecting the coated bearing portion to a hot isostatic pressing process, a vacuum sintering process, or a controlled atmospheric sintering process. The first material may be the same as or different from the second material. The predetermined spraying technique may be a thermal type spraying process such as a plasma spraying process or a high velocity oxygen fuel spraying process.

Abstract: A prosthesis for articulation (e.g., hip or joint prosthesis) is provided, which includes a pair of articulation components respectively defining a pair of articulation surfaces movably engageable with each other. In some embodiments, each of the articulation surfaces is formed from a biocompatible ceramic (e.g., doped silicon nitride ceramic) having a flexural strength greater than about 700 Mega-Pascal (MPa) and a toughness greater than about 7 Mega-Pascal root meter (MPam0.5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a biologically active prosthetic device for the reconstruction of bone tissue comprising the steps of: a CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) scan of the patient and obtaining a three-dimensional electronic model (1) of the part of the bone and of a bone defect (2) to be reconstructed; production by prototyping of a prototype resin model (3) of the area of the patient's bone involved, forming of a model (4), of the patient's bone defect to be reconstructed; construction of a netative mould (5), production of a ready sintered ceramic semi-finished product with controlled and interconnected porosity, said semi-finished product being made with dimensions and shape slightly larger than the bone defect; mechanical processing and manual finishing of the sintered semi-finished product, to obtain the precise dimensions and shape of the bone defect, the invention also relating to the prosthetic device obtained using the method described above.

Abstract: A process of forming a prosthetic implant component, such as the femoral component of a knee replacement prosthesis. The process comprises the steps of: (i) forming a prosthetic component having a shape at least approximating the desired final shape of the component from a metal alloy; (ii) subjecting the component to a relatively elevated temperature and pressure followed by a cooling regime; (iii) machining the surface of the component; (iv) polishing the surface of the component.

Abstract: An implant for deployment in select locations or select tissue for regeneration of tissue is disclosed. The implant includes collagen and or other bio-resorbable materials, where the implant may also be used for therapy delivery. Additionally, the implant may include, or have blended in, an additive, such as an osteoinductive factor, for example biocompatible ceramics and glass.

Abstract: An implant for insertion into a human or animal body which comprises at least one implant part is provided. The at least one implant part has a base member which is produced from an implant material and has a surface which is designed at least partially in the form of an artificial joint surface. Part of or the entire joint surface is covered with a wear-reducing hard material coating, such that a service life of the implant is extended and the compatibility of the implant increased. An intermediate layer is provided between the hard material coating and the at least one joint surface formed from the implant material for the purpose of reducing tension between the hard material coating and the implant material. A corresponding method for production of an implant is also provided.

Abstract: A prosthesis has prosthetic components principally comprising metallic materials, in which a portion of an articular interface between respective components is a metallic-nonmetallic interface. At least a portion of the articular surface of a femoral head may include a ceramic material defining an articulation zone, such as at a polar region of the femoral head, so that the ceramic articulates with a metallic acetabular liner. The area covered by the ceramic may be engineered to optimize the contact conditions between the femoral head and the acetabular liner, such as by providing two clearances therebetween. A relatively smaller, polar articulation clearance is defined by the gap between the ceramic coating and the metallic acetabular liner. A relatively larger, equatorial non-articulation clearance between the femoral head and the acetabular liner is defined by the gap between the portion of the femoral head not covered by the ceramic coating.

Abstract: A medical implant device or component thereof comprising a metal substrate and a coating layer structure provided on the substrate. The coating layer structure comprises an outermost layer of a ceramic material. A bonding structure is deposited between the metal substrate and the coating layer structure. The bonding structure comprises a chromium rich layer, which is deposited onto the metal substrate surface and has a higher concentration of chromium than the metal substrate, as well as a gradient layer having a composition gradient from the chromium rich layer towards the surface of the device providing increasing proportions of a gradient material which has structural correspondence with the layer of the coating layer structure that is most adjacent to the bonding structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a bone substitute material comprises the steps of providing a foam material (3) having an open cell structure, distorting the shape of the foam material (3) and holding the material in a distorted shape, coating the walls of the cells of the foam material with a ceramic slip (5), removing the foam material, and sintering the ceramic slip to form a bone substitute material that is approximately a positive image of the distorted foam material (3). In another method, a granular bone material is formed from a multiplicity of pieces of foam that are not distorted.

Abstract: An implantable article including a biocompatible substrate and a bioactive strontium-substituted calcium phosphate ceramic apatite coating chemically bonded to at least a portion of the surface of the biocompatible substrate, wherein the strontium-substituted calcium phosphate ceramic apatite coating includes nanopores, nanocrystals and strontium ions, and includes a hexagonal crystal structure of apatite having a molar ratio of strontium ions to calcium ions of about 0.0001 to about 0.5, and the strontium ions inhibit bone resorption in vitro and enhance bone formation in vivo so that the implantable article exhibits enhance fixation and bone ingrowth in and around the implantable article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical tissue-binding material, especially a soft tissue-binding material capable of attaching to a soft biological tissue such as a bone reconstruction material or a transdermal terminal, and a method for preparation thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a medical tissue-binding material which comprises a base material having calcium binding onto the surface, provided that the base material is not titanium or titanium alloy. Also, the present invention relates to a method for preparing a medical tissue-binding material which comprises soaking a base material into a calcium ion containing solution. Introduction of at least one group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfonate, amino, silanol and phosphate to the surface of the base material is effective for said method.

Abstract: A porous bio-material and a method of preparation thereof. The method includes the following steps. First, a body is formed by mixing a bio-ceramic powder, a water-absorbing natural organic material and a liquid. The water-absorbing natural organic material is selected from the group consisting of carrageenan and agar. Then, the body is partially dried to form a machinable porous bio-material. The sizes of pores and porosity can be tailored by controlling the extent of drying so that the porous bio-material with acceptable strength can be obtained.

Abstract: Medical implants having a ceramic body reinforced with a plurality of metal wires. Methods of making the implant and methods of implanting the medical implant are also provided.

Abstract: A ceramic implant having a rough surface texture and a method for forming the same. The method includes forming a green body of a first ceramic composition. The green body is reduced to smaller pieces thereby forming ceramic fragments. A mold is filled with a second ceramic composition to form a ceramic base. Ceramic fragments are added to the mold and an outer layer is formed over at least a portion of the ceramic base. Pressure is applied to the mold to compress the outer layer onto the ceramic base and to form a green assembly. The green assembly is sintered to form a ceramic implant having a rough surface texture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bone implant matrix, comprising a base matrix treated or to be treated with a reinforcing mixture containing at least a polymer. The described bone implant matrix is particularly suitable in the field of bone reconstructive surgery in general, orthopaedics, and in particular in oral surgery, maxillo-facial and dental implantology. Furthermore, a method for preparing the bone implant matrix is described.

Abstract: A bone augment for repairing a bone defect. The bone augment includes a porous body and a metallic liner. The porous body defines a bore and is configured to be intraoperatively shaped to correspond to the bone defect. The metallic liner is injection molded within the bore such that portions of the liner interlock with pores of the porous body. The metallic liner is operable to mount an implant to the bone augment.

Abstract: A ceramic powder of non-agglomerated non-aggregated phase-pure hydroxyapatite having a controllable morphology. Also presented is a film of phasepure crystalline hydroxyapatite grains having a controllable morphology. Methods for preparing the same are also provided.

Abstract: A composite material for positioning in the anatomy to form a selected function therein. The composite may be resorbable over a selected period of time. The composite may allow for selected bone ingrowth as absorption of the composite occurs.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint has a central axis and includes: (a) a first member of rigid material and including a body having a cantilevered perimeter flange extending therefrom, the flange defining a wear-resistant, concave first contact surface having a protruding rim and a recessed central portion; and (b) a second member of rigid material with a wear-resistant, convex second contact surface. The first and second contact surfaces bear directly against each other so as to transfer axial and lateral loads from one of the members to the other, while allowing pivoting motion between the two members. The flange is shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and permit the first contact surface to conform in an irregular shape to the second contact surface when the joint is placed under a predetermined load.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new composition and medical implant made therefrom, the composition comprising a thick diffusion hardened zone, and preferably further comprising a ceramic layer. The present invention relates to orthopedic implants comprising the new composition, methods of making the new composition, and methods of making orthopedic implants comprising the new composition.

Abstract: In order to provide a bone substitution material which enables mechanical stability and long-term in-vivo biocompatibility which can also be used for guided bone healing, the invention provides a method comprising the steps of providing a starting material comprising a mixture of at least a skeleton substance (20) and at least one functional substance, and building up a skeleton from the skeleton substance, thereby producing a profiled body (30), as well as a profiled body (30) containing a skeleton substance (20) and comprising a porous structure (10) with pores (12, 15) being interconnected with each other.

Abstract: A joint part (1) has a porous portion (2) that is defined by a multiplicity of solid regions where material is present and a remaining multiplicity of pore regions where material is absent, the locations of at least most of the multiplicity of solid regions being defined by one or more mathematical functions. The nature of the porous portion can be varied systematically by changing one or more constants in the mathematical functions and the part is made by a process of solid freeform fabrication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a porous osteoinductive calcium phosphate material having an average grain size in a range of 0.1-1.50 ?m, having a porosity consisting essentially only of micropores in a size range of 0.1-1.50 ?m, and having a surface area percentage of micropores in a range of 10-40%.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for coating a biocompatible medical implant with a surface layer having antioxidant activity. In various embodiments, a surface layer described herein destroys the oxidative activity of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon contact. An ROS can be, for example, an ROS generated by neutrophils in vivo. In various embodiments, a surface layer comprises a titanium oxide layer that can comprise a rutile, an anatase or a perovskite crystal structure, and can include defects comprising Ti(III). In some embodiments, the oxide layer can further comprise a dopant such as niobium. In some embodiments, methods for forming a surface layer on a biocompatible medical implant having antioxidant activity are disclosed.

Abstract: A coating of blue-black or black oxidized zirconium of uniform and controlled thickness on a zirconium or zirconium alloy material is accomplished through the oxidative treatment of an amorphous zirconium or zirconium alloy substrate having an altered surface roughness. An oxidized zirconium coating of uniform and controlled thickness is especially useful on orthopedic implants of zirconium or zirconium-based alloys to provide low friction, highly wear resistant surfaces on artificial joints, such as, but not limited to, hip joints, knee joints, shoulders, elbows, and spinal implants. The uniformly thick oxidized zirconium surface of controlled depth on prostheses provide a barrier against implant corrosion caused by ionization of the metal prostheses. The invention is also useful in non-articulating implant devices such as bone plates, bone screws, etc.

Abstract: An implant for deployment in select locations or select tissue for regeneration of tissue is disclosed. The implant includes collagen and or other bio-resorbable materials, where the implant may also be used for therapy delivery. Additionally, the implant may include, or have blended in, an additive, such as an osteoinductive factor, for example biocompatible ceramics and glass.

Abstract: An implant for deployment in select locations or select tissue for regeneration of tissue is disclosed. The implant includes collagen and or other bio-resorbable materials, where the implant may also be used for therapy delivery. Additionally, the implant may be “matched” to provide the implant with similar physical and/or chemical properties as the host tissue.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a body having an external surface defining an outer profile of the device. The body includes a porous matrix including a series of interconnected macropores defined by a plurality of interconnected struts each including a hollow interior. A filler material substantially fills at least a portion of the series of interconnected macropores. The external surface of the body includes a plurality of openings communicating with the hollow interior of at least a portion of the plurality of interconnected struts. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the external surface includes exposed areas of the filler material and porous matrix in addition to the exposed openings. In another aspect, the porous matrix is formed from a bioresorbable ceramic and the filler material is a biologically stable polymeric material. Still, other aspects related to this and other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to porous ceramic composites incorporating biodegradable polymers for use as a bone substitute in the fields of orthopedics and dentistry or as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications. The porous ceramic composite implant for connective tissue replacement comprises a porous ceramic matrix having a biodegradable polymer provided on internal and external surfaces of the ceramic matrix. The biodegradable polymer allows for the passage and/or delivery of a variety of agents throughout the porous ceramic matrix and improves mechanical properties of the implant in vivo.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method, using pure niobium as a transient liquid reactive braze material, for fabrication of cellular or honeycomb structures, wire space-frames or other sparse builtup structures or discrete articles using Nitinol (near-equiatomic titanium-nickel alloy) and related shape-memory and superelastic alloys. Nitinol shape memory alloys (SMAs), acquired in a form such as corrugated sheet, discrete tubes or wires, may be joined together using the newly discovered joining technique. Pure niobium when brought into contact with nitinol at elevated temperature, liquefies at temperatures below the melting point and flows readily into capillary spaces between the elements to be joined, thus forming a strong joint.

Abstract: Bone void filler pieces that are conducive to packing or nesting when a plurality of pieces are located in a cavity in random orientation. The bone void filler of the present invention includes a higher bulk packing density and a porosity of less than 80% to provide a better match native bone ingrowth rate. Further, the bone void filler includes a bi-modal pore distribution with a high frequency of smaller pores to enhance the density characteristic of the bone void filler pieces. A method of manufacturing the bone void filler pieces includes a precursor powder composition suitable to form a ceramic matrix; the preform is converted by chemical reaction to a final composition. The preform further includes the use of a porogen that decomposes to gaseous decomposition products upon heating.

Abstract: An implant for deployment in select locations or select tissue for regeneration of tissue is disclosed. The implant includes collagen and or other bio-resorbable materials, where the implant may also be used for therapy delivery.

Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic implant which is structured on the surface at least in the region in contact with bone and/or tissue is described. The process is characterized in that the ceramic implant after shaping and sintering is, in the region to be structured, I. reduced to the corresponding metal on the surface; II. the essentially metallic surface is subsequently subjected to a structuring surface treatment; III. the structure surface is oxidized. Furthermore, implants which have been provided with a topological structure on the surface by means of this process are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sintered body of titanium compound obtained by sintering the titanium compound and a method for producing the same. A titanium compound represented by the formula (1) or (2) below is sintered. [Ca10(PO4)6]TiO3.nH2O??(1) [Ca10(PO4)6]TiO2(OH)2??(2) (In the formulae, n is an integer of from 0 to 3). The obtained sintered body substantially consists of perovskite and whitlokite.

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 total disc implant (TDI) is provided for total replacement of a spinal disc or discs in a human patient or other mammal, wherein the TDI is designed to maintain a substantially full range of natural motion (ROM) following implantation. The TDI generally comprises, in one preferred form, upper and lower end plates for affixation to adjacent vertebral bodies, with an intervening insert disposed therebetween. The end plates each include elongated part-cylindrical surfaces oriented generally perpendicular to each other, with one of said surfaces extending in an anterior-posterior direction and the other extending in a medial-lateral direction. The intervening insert defines concave upper and lower part-cylindrical seats oriented for respectively engaging these part-cylindrical surfaces, wherein these part-cylindrical seats are defined by offset radii to include a somewhat flattened central base region merging smoothly with upwardly curving radiused sides.

Abstract: A method of forming an implant to be implanted into living bone is disclosed. The method comprises the act of roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to produce a roughened surface. The method further comprises the act of depositing discrete nanoparticles on the roughened surface though a one-step process of exposing the roughened surface to a solution. The nanoparticles comprise a material having a property that promotes osseointegration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic porous body for in-vitro and in-vivo use comprising a composition comprising a calcium aluminate (CA) containing phase and optionally at least one of an accelerator, a retarder, a surfactant, a foaming agent, a reactive alumina, water, a fiber, and a biologically active material, and combinations thereof. Ceramic compositions are provides as well as method of using the ceramic compositions and methods of manufacturing a ceramic porous body. The ceramic porous bodies of this invention may be used as artificial bones, joints, in-vitro support structures, and in-vivo support structures for cells, tissues, organs, and nerve growth and regeneration.

Abstract: A bone substitute composition includes glass flake and a hardenable material. The glass flake is a particle with an aspect ratio of, at least, 20:1. The preferred thickness of the glass flake is in the range from 200 to 1,000 nm and the average particle size is, preferably, from 20 to 60 ?m.

Abstract: A porous composition comprising a hydroxyapatite material, as can be made from a mixture of calcium phosphate, calcium oxide and a removable inorganic porogen. In other embodiments, the present invention provides a method of making such a porous hydroxyapatite material or using a ternary system to prepare a two-phase composition enroute to a biomimetic bone material.