Use of CoCrMo to augment biocompatibility in polycrystalline diamond compacts

1. A method for improving the biocompatibility of polycrystalline diamond compacts comprising:

selecting a diamond feedstock comprising diamond particles,

selecting a solvent-catalyst metal,

said solvent-catalyst metal including CoCrMo alloy,

said CoCrMo alloy including Ni,

sintering said diamond into a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact in the presence of said solvent-catalyst metal such that said solvent-catalyst metal is present between the diamond particles in said compact;

wherein said sintered polycrystalline diamond compact has enhanced biocompatibility compared to a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact that lacks use of Co and Ni as a solvent-catalyst metal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said polycrystalline diamond compact is substantially free of unbonded Co and Ni.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said compact includes interstitial carbides in said diamond table, said carbides being formed from said solvent-catalyst metal.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said solvent-catalyst metal includes a quantity of one or more of the following: Ti and W.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said compact includes interstitial metal between the diamond particles in the compact, said interstitial metal including at least one of Co and Ni.

6. A method for improving the biocompatibility of polycrystalline diamond compacts comprising:

selecting a diamond feedstock comprising diamond particles,

selecting a substrate that includes a solvent-catalyst metal,

said solvent-catalyst metal including CoCrMo and Ni,

sintering said diamond and said substrate into a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact, said compact comprising a diamond table formed on the surface of said substrate,

said sintering causing a sweep of solvent-catalyst metal from said susbtrate to pass into said diamond feedstock, such that said diamond table comprises interstitial spaces between said diamond particles with solvent-catalyst metal therein, and such that said diamond table comprises both diamond to diamond and diamond to metal bonds;

wherein said sintered polycrystalline diamond compact has enhanced biocompatibility compared to a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact that does not utilize CoCrMo as a solvent-catalyst metal.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said polycrystalline diamond compact is substantially free of unbonded Co and Ni.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said diamond table comprises carbides formed from said solvent-catalyst metal.

9. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said solvent-catalyst metal includes a quantity of one or more of the following: Ti and W.