This invention provides surface hardened, abrasion resistant high strength, biocompatible metal medical implants, in particular, titanium alloy implants which do not include any elements which have been shown or suggested as having short term or long term potential adverse effect from a standpoint of biocompatibility. Further, the invention provides methods of strengthening and hardening the surfaces of other titanium, zirconium, and cobalt-based alloy implants with small concentrations of a metal solute such as zirconium, yttrium, tantalum, aluminum, silicon, chromium, or thorium via internal oxidation or nitridation. Alternatively, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon can be diffused directly into the surface of the implants by interstitial hardening to further increase the surface abrasion resistance of these internally oxidized or internally nitridized implant metal or metal alloys.

Surface hardened biocompatible metallic medical implants

The invention provides improved biocompatible implant alloys and methods of constructing artificial implants having improved long term wear properties. Cobalt-base biocompatible implant alloys provided according to the invention are essentially free of carbide, nitride and sigma second phase particles, and can have hardness and strength properties equivalent to or greater than the standard CoCrMo alloy with significantly improved fatigue life and superior frictional contact properties with UHMWPE. Artificial implant constructions and methods provided according to another aspect of the invention are capable of eliminating latent defects that can promote long term failure of joint implants.

Enhanced biocompatible implants and alloys

An articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants having a first component (60074) with a concave surface end and a corresponding second element (60075) having a convex surface. The two components form a device with diamond to diamond contact at the articulation point.

Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants

Diamond bearings and bearing components are disclosed. Some embodiments of the bearings and bearing components include polycrystalline diamond compacts sintered under high pressure and high temperature to create a diamond table chemically and mechanically bonded to a substrate, the diamond table presenting a durable and thermally stable load bearing and articulation surface.

Bearings, races and components thereof having diamond and other superhard surfaces

Prosthetic knee joint having at least one diamond articulation surface

A ductile cobalt-base alloy having high strength is provided having molybdenum in the range 1% to 8% molybdenum by weight.

Ductile cobalt-base alloys

A precipitation strengthened alloy is provided having the composition: Tantalum 5-20 Tungsten 2 Chromium up to 30 Iron0-10 Carbon 0-0.3 Nickel 0-30 Silicon 0-1 Yttrium 0-0.2 Lanthanum0-0.2 Manganese 0-2 Cobalt + incidental impurities balance WHEREIN THE RATIO OF TANTALUM TO TUNGSTEN IS BETWEEN ABOUT 1 1/2 TO 2 1/2 AND THE MOLYBDENUM IS LESS THAN 1 PERCENT.

Coleman M. Augustine

Papers

Ductile cobalt-base alloys

Precipitation strengthened alloys

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