US5133757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ion implantation of plastic orthopaedic implants
Assignee: Spire Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-31
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Granted: 1992-07-28
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Expires: 2010-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A load-bearing plastic orthopaedic joint implant, formed aat least partially of UHMWPE or HDPE material, and a process of subjecting at least the load-bearing surface thereof to ion implantation so as to improve its surface characteristics are disclosed. Such improved surface characteristics result, inter alia, from the formation in the treated surfaces, of increased carbon to carbon bonds, diamond-like carbon chain scissions and wherein the implanted ions do not form precipitate chemical compounds with the plastic material.
Inventors
- 👤 Piran Sioshansi
- 👤 Richard W. Oliver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:47
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/48; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/30767; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61L27/16; B; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/16; C23C14/06; C23C14/14; C23C14/20; A61F2/3094; A61F2/32; A61F2/34; A61F2/38; A61F2/40; A61F2002/30922; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00574; A61F2310/0058; A61L2430/00; A61L2430/24; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/085; B29C35/0866; B29C2035/0872; B29K; B29K2023/00; B29K2023/04; B29K2023/06; B29K2023/0608; B29K2023/065; B29K2023/0658; B29K2023/0683; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/7532
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A process of ion implanting a load-bearing plastic orthopaedic joint implant comprising: (a) forming an orthopaedic implant at least partially from an UHMWPE or HDPE material; (b) mounting said implant in a chamber; (c) creating a vacuum of about 10 -6 torr in said chamber; (d) exposing a surface of said implant formed of said UHMWPE or HDPE material to an ion beam to improve its surface characteristics, in particular by increasing the carbon to carbon bonds therein, with diamond-like carbon chain scission in said exposed surface; (e) backfilling said chamber with an inert gas to about atmospheric pressure wherein said backfilling step is maintained for a time period of at least about one hour and not exceeding about five hours so as to effect formation of said carbon to carbon bonds of said ion implanted surface; and (f) removing said ion implant from said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A process of ion implanting a load-bearing plastic orthopaedic joint implant comprising: (a) forming an orthopaedic implant at least partially from an UHMWPE or HDPE material; (b) mounting said implant in a chamber; (c) creating a vacuum of about 10 -6 torr in said chamber; (d) exposing a surface of said implant formed of said UHMWPE or HDPE material to an ion beam to improve its surface characteristics, in particular by increasing the carbon to carbon bonds therein, with diamond-like carbon chain scission in said exposed surface; (e) backfilling said chamber with an inert gas to about atmospheric pressure wherein said backfilling step is maintained for a time period of at least about one hour and not exceeding about five hours so as to effect formation of said carbon to carbon bonds of said ion implanted surface; and (f) removing said ion implant from said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 further including heating said implant in said chamber prior to exposing said surface thereof to said ion beam; and further including quenching said implant following its said removal from said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said plastic orthopaedic implant is sterilized by gamma rays after the implant is removed from the chamber; and wherein said ion implanted exposed surface has been implanted with an atomic concentration from about 0.01 to about 2 percent of said ion beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process of ion implanting a load-bearing plastic orthopaedic joint implant comprising: (a) forming an orthopaedic implant at least partially from an UHMWPE or HDPE material; (b) mounting said implant in a chamber; (c) creating a vacuum of about 10 -6 torr in said chamber; (d) exposing a surface of said implant formed of said UHMWPE or HDPE material to an ion beam to effect ion implantation thereof at multiple energies so as to improve its surface characteristics; said exposing step resulting in a total dose of ions delivered per cm 2 of about 1.35 E 16; and an atomic concentration of the implanted ion species of about 2%; (e) backfilling said chamber with an inert gas to about atmospheric pressure; and (f) removing said ion implant from said chamber;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process of ion implanting a load-bearing plastic orthopaedic joint implant comprising: (a) forming an orthopaedic implant at least partially from an UHMWPE or HDPE material; (b) mounting said implant in a chamber; (c) creating a vacuum of about 10 -6 torr in said chamber; (d) exposing a surface of said implant formed of said UHMWPE or HDPE material to an ion beam to effect ion implantation thereof at multiple energies so as to improve its surface characteristics; said exposing step resulting in a total dose of ions delivered per cm 2 of about 1.35 E 16; and an atomic concentration of the implanted ion species of about 2%; (e) backfilling said chamber with an inert gas to about atmospheric pressure; and (f) removing said ion implant from said chamber;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said plastic orthopaedic implant is exposed to sterilization by gamma rays after the implant is removed from the chamber, wherein the depth of penetration of the implanted ion species is about 0.25 micron, and wherein said exposing step effects said surface in about one hour.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 4 wherein a current density of said ion implanted surface per cm 2 is about 1.25 microamps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-28 | 1996-01-27 | 1996-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-28 | 2000-01-27 | 2000-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-28 | 2004-01-27 | 2004-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |