Niobium-Zirconium Alloy for medical devices or their parts
A medical implant or device which is at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy consisting essentially of (a) 98.85-99.15 weight percent Niobium, (b) 0.85-1.15% weight percent Zirconium.
1 . A medical implant or device at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy consisting essentially of
(a) 98.85-99.15 weight percent Niobium,
(b) 0.85-1.15% weight percent Zirconium.
2 . A medical implant or device according to claim 1 wherein said metal alloy consists essentially of
(a) 99.02-99.15 weight percent Niobium,
(b) 0.85-0.98% weight percent Zirconium.
3 . A medical implant or device according to claim 1 wherein said metal alloy consists essentially of
(a) 99 . 05 -99.15 weight percent Niobium,
(b) 0.85-0.95% weight percent Zirconium.
4 . A medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the medical device is a minimal-invasive device, in particular a catheter or a guide wire.
5 . A medical implant or device according to any one of the claims 1 to 3 , wherein the medical implant is an intra-cavernous implant.
6 . A medical implant or device according to claim 5 , wherein the medical implant is an intravascular implant.
7 . A medical implant according to claim 6 , wherein the medical implant is a stent, a stent graft, a stent graft connector or a heart valve repair device.
8 . A stent according to claim 7 which is composed of a single homogeneous, substantially non-decomposing tubing made from the metal alloy according of claim 1 .
9 . A stent according to claim 8 which is composed of a single homogeneous substantially non-decomposing sheet made from the metal alloy according of claim 1 .
10 . A medical implant or device according to any one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the surface of the metal alloy is passivated by oxidation or nitridization.
11 . A medical implant or device according to any one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the surface of the metal alloy is coated with iridium oxide by vapor deposition.
12 . A medical implant or device according to any one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the surface of the metal alloy is electropolished, mechanically polished, micro blasted, roughened or sintered.
13 . A medical implant or device according to any one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the surface of the metal alloy is coated with a polymer, a blend of polymers, a metal, a blend of metals, a ceramic and/or biomolecules, in particular peptides, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and/or nucleic acids.
14 . A medical implant or device according to any one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the surface of the metal alloy is coated with stem cells and/or a bioactive substance, in particular drugs, antibiotics, growth factors, anti-inflammatory agents and/or anti-thrombogenic agents.