Abstract: The invention is intended to introduce cells easily into a ceramics for in vivo use. Also, the invention provides a ceramics for in vivo use which has a good affinity to a living body and no harmful action on a living body. The invention relates to a porous ceramics having many almost globular pores 1 and made of a component comprising a calcium phosphate type. These pores 1 are brought into contact and communicated with each other to thereby exhibit permeability. The permeability was designed to be 150 centidarcy or more and 8000 centidarcy or less.

Abstract: A strong, porous article useful as a bone substitute material. The article comprises a continuous strong framework structure having struts defining interstices which interconnect throughout the bulk volume, and may have ceramic or osteoconductive material occupying at least a portion of the same bulk volume as the framework structure. Either as a coating on the strong framework struts or between the framework struts and the ceramic or osteoconductive-osteoinductive materials is a resilient material which serves to distribute stresses within the article.

Abstract: A biocompatible medical implant has at least one part thereof composed of ceramic material with the formula NaxKyNbO3, wherein 0≦x≦0.8, 0.2≦y≦1, and x+y=1. The ceramic material can be polarized to give the implant spatially varying piezoelectric properties. Signals can be measured from the respective piezoelectric regions of the selectively polarized ceramic material to provide an indication of the degree of fixation of the implant to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A surgical implant comprising biodegradable polymer interspersed with ceramic particulate that is visible to radioscopy.

Abstract: A composition or device suitable for orthopedic or dental implantation to bone, characterized by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) adsorbed to a porous hydroxyapatite substratum.

Abstract: The invention relates to an osteoinductive biomaterial, which is based on a ceramic material and which has a total porosity of 20 to 90%, wherein macropores are present having a size ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 mm, and wherein micropores are present having a size ranging from 0.05 to 20 &mgr;m. The invention further relates to a process for preparing said osteoinductive biomaterial.

Abstract: An artificial joint made from a zirconia-alumina composite ceramic and having the capability of providing a good joint motion for a long time period with a high degree of reliability is provided. This artificial joint is composed of a first bone member and a second bone member, which is slidably engaged to a part of the first bone member to form a joint portion. At least one of the first and second bone members is made from the zirconia-alumina composite ceramic comprising a matrix phase of zirconia grains and a second phase of alumina grains dispersed in the matrix phase. The zirconia grains contains ceria as a stabilizer in such an amount that the matrix phase is largely composed of tetragonal zirconia. In addition, this composite ceramic has an average grain size of 0.1 to 1 &mgr;m, preferably 0.1 to 0.8 &mgr;m, and particularly preferably 0.1 to 0.65 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A bone-like implant capable of increasing its porosity in situ comprising at least one bone-like compound with at least one hydrophobic carrier, or a degradable component. The bone-like implant includes its manufacture and methods of use. One aspect of the bone-like implant is to provide a method of repairing a bone defect or related injuries. The bone-like implant includes several embodiments capable of increasing its porosity in situ.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a porous ceramic body, which process is based on a negative replica method. The invention further relates to a ceramic body obtainable by said method and to its use as a scaffold for tissue engineering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resorbable bone replacement and bone formation material (augmentation material) based on porous &bgr;-tricalcium phosphate (&bgr;-TCP).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acetabular cup for receiving a substantially spherical hip joint prosthesis head having an outer surface, the cup including: (a) a ceramic component having a socket surface shaped to rotatably receive the outer surface of the head, and (b) a metal backing in which the ceramic component is received, wherein the ceramic component comprises zirconia-toughened alumina, and wherein the ceramic component is interference fit within the metal backing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hard tissue scaffold comprising a resorbable ceramic. The scaffold is formed by first creating unfired (green) bioresorbable ceramic fibers via the viscous suspension spinning process (VSSP). Then, using common textile techniques, a structure in which the size and distribution of interconnected pores are controlled, is created. Heat treating the structure to remove the organic phase and sintering the ceramic yields a hard tissue scaffold.

Abstract: An implant includes a main body member having bio-compatibility, and particles formed ofbioactive material and dispersedly provided at the surface of an embedded section of the main body member. Each of the particles has a part embedded in the embedded portion and the other part protruding from the embedded portion. The main body member is formed of titanium or titanium alloy. The particles having osteo-conduction are formed of a material selected from among a group consisting of sintered substances of hydroxylapatite, &agr;-tricalcium phosphate, &bgr;-tricalcium phosphate, tetra-calcium phosphate, a single substance of amorphous calcium phosphate, monetite, brushite, 45S4 glass, and a mixture of them. It is desirable that the embedded section surface has a surface roughness in a range of 5 to 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel sol-gel calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite ceramic coatings and processes of making same at low temperature. Such coatings are useful, inter alia, for dental implants and bone-metal contact appliances. A sol-gel process for preparing a crystallized hydroxyapatite which comprises: (a) hydrolysing a phosphor precursor in a water based medium; (b) adding a calcium salt precursor to the medium after the phosphite has been hydrolysed to obtain a hydroxyapatite gel; and (c) calcining the crystallized hydroxyapatite at a suitable elevated temperature.

Abstract: Osteogenic sponge compositions having enhanced osteoinductive properties for use in bone repair are described. The compositions include a quickly resorbable porous carrier, a more slowly resorbed mineral scaffold and an osteogenic factor, preferably a bone morphogenetic protein. The compositions enable increased osteoinductive activity while retaining a reliable scaffold for the formation of new bone at an implant site. Methods for therapeutic use of the compositions are also described.

Abstract: A hydroxyapatite consisting substantially of Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, and having a crystal structure which has at least two diffraction peaks at 31-32 degrees and 26 degrees in X-ray diffractometry; and a process for producing a hydroxyapatite which comprises the step (A) of immersing a substrate in a first aqueous solution containing calcium ions and a second solution containing PO4 ions to generate the hydroxyapatite at least on the surface of the substrate and the step (B) of recovering the hydroxyapatite from the substrate.

Abstract: A method of making artificial bone comprises providing a membrane of collagen with solutions of calcium ions and of phosphate ions on opposite sides of the membrane. The calcium ions and phosphate ions diffuse through the membrane and precipitate as a hydroxyapatite material. Control of ionic concentrations ensures that precipitation takes place within the fibrils of the membrane. The result is an artificial bone material comprising a matrix of collagen and a hydroxyapatite material deposited within the matrix.

Abstract: Prostheses with artificial joints have only a few metallic and ceramic materials whose compatibility with human or animal tissue has been established. These materials, however, cannot be combined with one another in any manner if a friction pairing occurs as a result, for example, in the case of artificial joints. With artificial joints, joint partners are required to have good mechanical properties as well as tribological properties. According to the invention, a sintered material is thus provided which is comprised of zircon oxide with an addition of 0.1 to 40 wt. % aluminum oxide. This sintered material enables an artificial joint of a prosthesis whose other ceramic materials are comprised of aluminum oxide or zircon oxide with the given proportions of aluminum oxide to be assembled with joint partners.

Abstract: A porous ceramics body for in vivo or in vitro luse in which a number of pores are closely distributed in three dimensional directions, adjoining pores thereof being partitioned by wall portions with respective communication ports to bring said adjoining pores into communication with each other such that a series of connected spherical pores are formed therewithin, said porous ceramics body being made of a sintered calcium phosphate body, characterized in that, within said sintered calcium phosphate body, pores each having a diameter of 5 microns (&mgr;m) or more account for 80% or more of all the pores in terms of volume whereas pores having a diameter of less than 5 microns (&mgr;m) account for less than 20% of all the pores in terms of volume as subjected to a mercury porosimeter measurement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a synthetic biomaterial compound based on stabilized calcium phosphates and more particularly to the molecular, structural and physical characterization of this compound. The compound comprises calcium, oxygen and phosphorous, wherein at least one of the elements is substituted with an element having an ionic radius of approximately 0.1 to 1.1 Å. The knowledge of the specific molecular and chemical properties of the compound allows for the development of several uses of the compound in various bone-related clinical conditions.

Abstract: A method of producing reconstructed bone. The method includes providing an implant structure having a calcium phosphate component, and stabilizing the implant adjacent the healthy bone until tissue can recover, bond to the implant and support the normal required loading. The implant structure provides morphological continuity and anatomical contact between the implant body and the adjacent healthy bone. The method further includes providing for physiological processes to maintain a healthy junction between the implant and the healthy bone. The method further includes controlling, guiding and directing the bone reconstruction process in surgical situations where healthy recovery would not otherwise occur.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a porous ceramic body, which process is based on a negative replica method. The invention further relates to a ceramic body obtainable by said method and to its use as a scaffold for tissue engineering.

Abstract: The invention relates to an osteoinductive biomaterial, which is based on a ceramic material and which has a total porosity of 20 to 90%, wherein macropores are present having a size ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 mm, and wherein micropores are present having a size ranging from 0.05 to 20 &mgr;m. The invention further relates to a process for preparing said osteoinductive biomaterial.

Abstract: The invention describes biodegradable calcium phosphate cements, in particular mixtures of calcium phosphate-containing powders of different stoichiometric composition, the precipitated hydroxylapatite present being a cation-deficient hydroxylapatite of the formula 1, with the result that the mixtures have improved properties with regard to compressive strength.

Abstract: An implant composition having controlled resorption rate in vivo for stimulating bone growth, a method of making the implant composition, and a kit of implant materials are disclosed. The implant composition includes a calcium sulfate compound, polymer containing particles, and a setting agent for setting the calcium sulfate compound and the polymer containing particles into a heterogeneous solid composition. Upon setting, the calcium sulfate compound forms a matrix and the polymer containing particles settled within the matrix. The resorption rate of the implant composition in vivo can be controlled of between eight and twenty-four weeks, which substantially matches the rate of bone growth. The implant composition of the present invention can be used for the repair, augmentation, and other treatment of bone.

Abstract: The invention provides an implantable device coated with a layer of calcium phosphate and optionally one or more biologically active substances such as growth factors, lipis, (lipo)polysaccharides, hormones, proteins, antibiotics or cytostatics. The device can be obtained by a nanotechnology process comprising subjecting a substrate to a surface treatment until a surface roughness with an average peak distance (Ra value) between 10 and 1,000 nm and subjecting the roughened surface to precipitation of calcium phosphate from a solution containing calcium and phosphate ions with optional coprepitation of the biologically active substance.

Abstract: A calcium phosphate porous sintered body which comprises spherical pores communicating with one another substantially throughout the body with a porosity of 55% or more and 90% or less, and has an average diameter of the inter-pore communicating parts of 50 &mgr;m or more, a pore diameter of 150 &mgr;m or more, and a three-point bending strength of 5 MPa or more, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a synthetic biomaterial compound based on stabilized calcium phosphates and more particularly to the molecular, structural and physical characterization of this compound. The compound comprises calcium, oxygen and phosphorous, wherein at least one of the elements is substituted with an element having an ionic radius of approximately 0.1 to 1.1 Å. The knowledge of the specific molecular and chemical properties of the compound allows for the development of several uses of the compound in various bone-related clinical conditions.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to make available implant elements or other medical products made of biological material with optimum mechanical and biological properties for a wide group of materials by introduction of a specially designed surface layer onto a strong core, where the surface layer is densified by means of hot isostatic pressing and dimensioned according to the basic fracture mechanics equation so that the thickness of the surface layer is less than c in the equation KIC=Y&sgr; c½, where Klc is the fracture toughness, Y a position and shape factor, c the critical defect size, and &sgr; the permitted stress for the actual material and the chosen design stress.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biomedical implant material comprising a substrate for biomedical implant made of a ceramic material, a first coating layer formed on the surface of said substrate by low-thermal impact coating process, and a second coating layer formed on said first coating layer via a metallic layer formed by thermal spraying process, and a method of producing the same. According to the biomedical implant material, it is made possible to prevent cracks from occurring in the ceramic substrate, and to secure sufficient bonding strength between the thermal-sprayed layer of titanium or the like onto the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A surgical implant system includes an implant body and an osseostimulative surface applied to, or used with, the implant body, the surface including a calcium sulfate (CS) compound which is a member selected from the group consisting of CS dihydrate, CS hemihydrate, anhydrous CS, and mixtures thereof. The performance and rate of resorption of the osseostimulative surface may be improved or modified through the use of a stabilizing component, a viscosity modifier, a pH modifier, or a cell growth inductive microgeometry. The system is also definable in terms of an in situ system of bone augmentation in which a bio-resorbable CS matrix, in various physical forms, from a kit is disposed about the surgical implant positioned within an osseotomy site.

Abstract: A calcium phosphate bone graft material comprising an amorphous calcium phosphate glassy phase of from about 30 to about 100 volume % is obtained by plasma spraying calcium phosphate-containing powder onto a target to produce a deposited layer and removing the deposited layer from the target to provide the calcium phosphate bone graft material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a biomaterial useful in bone repair and replacement, and to implants for cranofacial, orthopaedic, and especially dental applications. The implants have a unique geometric configuration, their surfaces defining concavities having a shape and dimensions which induce or enhance the rate and/or amount of bone growth at the implant site. The biomaterial preferably has a specific porous configuration and the implant may be at least coated with such a biomaterial of hydroxyapatite, for example.

Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic composite having a porous network. The process includes providing a photocurable ceramic dispersion. The dispersion consists of a photocurable polymer and a ceramic composition. The surface of the dispersion is scanned with a laser to cure the photocurable polymer to produce a photocured polymer/ceramic composition. The photocured composition useful as a polymer/ceramic composite, or the polymer phase can be removed by heating to a first temperature that is sufficient to burn out the photocured polymer. It is then heated to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature and is sufficient to sinter the ceramic composition to produce a purely ceramic composition having a porous network. Preferably and more specifically, the process uses a stereolithographic technique for laser scanning. The process can form a high quality orthopedic implant that dimensionally matches the bone structure of a patient.

Abstract: A three-dimensional lattice structure for use as a bone implant where bone growth is required. The lattice structure has a plurality of laths or bars of bioactive material. The laths or bars cross each other in a plurality of zones, and are interconnected in these zones forming interstices between the adjacent laths or bars. The interstices define a plurality of interconnected pored or channels in the lattice structure.

Abstract: An implantable, biocompatible, osteogenic bone graft comprises at least one zone of impermeability to soft tissue ingrowth which is integral with the bone graft. Application of the bone graft to a bone repair site leads to selective rapid new bone ingrowth and inhibits or prevents soft tissue, e.g., gingival, epithelial, connective and/or muscle tissue, ingrowth in those areas adjacent to the zone(s) of impermeability to soft tissue ingrowth. The bone graft can be employed in a wide variety of bone repair procedures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a macro-porous composite that can be used as a bone reconstitution material characterised in that it is made up of a combination of synthetic aragonite and at least one medicinal substance such as notably, an antibiotic. The invention also relates to a method of producing a composite characterised in that it consists of producing a mixture comprising grains of synthetic aragonite and at least one porogenic agent, compacting said mixture and heating the product obtained in such a way as to eliminate said porogenic agent, at least one medicinal substance being included before or after said step of eliminating of said porogenic agent.

Abstract: A biomedical article made of alumina ceramics including an aluminum oxide having a purity of not less than 99.95% and unavoidable impurities as remainder. The alumina ceramics contains no sintering agent. The alumina ceramics has no irregularities in the crystal grain size, and has a strength necessary for biomedical article, and have a crystal grain size of less than 1.0 &mgr;m to assure excellent slidability.

Abstract: A prosthetic bone filler including ceramic granules for use in a living body, the ceramic granules being bonded to each other with a polymeric substance, and having ventilation pores produced as a result of the presence of gaps between the adjacent granules. The prosthetic bone filler is produced by adding the polymeric substance in two portions to the ceramic granules. In addition to good flexibility, the prosthetic bone filler exhibits excellent bio-compatibility.

Abstract: A porous three-dimensional bone grafting matrix is provided which is biodegradable. The matrix is preferably formed from mineralized collagen where the mineral comprises particulate calcium phosphate immobilized in the matrix and having a particle size of 5 microns or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides for faster and stronger tissue-implant bonding by treating a ceramic implant with an ion beam to modify the surface of the ceramic. The surface modification can give the ceramic improved ion-exchange properties depending upon the particular ceramic and the type of ions used. In a preferred embodiment, a bioactive ceramic orthopaedic, dental, or soft tissue implant is bombarded with a beam of cations. When implanted in the body, the surface modification causes an increase in the release of critical ions, such as calcium or phosphorus, from the surface of the ceramic implant, and thereby accelerates implant-tissue bond formation.