IP Library › Patent Application 11116397
Patent Application
App. No. 11/116,397

Polycrystalline diamond compact surfaces on facet arthroplasty devices

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/116,397
Abstract

At least a portion of an articulating surface of a facet arthroplasty device may comprise a polycrystalline diamond compact. The polycrystalline diamond compact may be useful to increase the wearability and decrease the coefficient of friction of the at least one articulating surface of the facet arthroplasty device. The polycrystalline diamond compact may be utilized with any facet arthroplasty device and may be formed by any appropriate method including, but not limited to, diamond sintering, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, and energy beam ablation/deposition.

Claims (25)

1 . A facet arthroplasty device comprising at least one articulating surface, wherein at least a portion of the at least one articulating surface is a polycrystalline diamond compact.

2 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the at least one articulating surface is a polycrystalline diamond compact.

3 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the Knoop hardness of the articulating surface is greater than about 6000.

4 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact is formed by a diamond sintering process.

5 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact is formed by a chemical vapor deposition process.

6 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact is formed by a physical vapor deposition process.

7 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact is formed by an energy beam ablation/deposition process.

8 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact is fabricated separately from the facet arthroplasty device and then is attached to the facet arthroplasty device.

9 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 8 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact is attached to the facet arthroplasty device by a method selected from the group consisting of: welding, brazing, sintering, diffusion welding, diffusion bonding, inertial welding, adhesive bonding, and the use of fasteners including screws, bolts, and rivets.

10 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact comprises a metallic substrate, a layer of polycrystalline diamond, and a transition layer positioned between the metallic substrate and the polycrystalline diamond.

11 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact is polished or highly polished.

12 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the articulating surface articulates against another polycrystalline diamond compact.

13 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the articulating surface articulates against a ceramic selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconia, and pyrolytic carbon.

14 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the articulating surface having a polycrystalline diamond compact articulates against a metallic alloy selected from the group consisting of cobalt alloy and titanium alloy.

15 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the articulating surface having a polycrystalline diamond compact articulates against a polymer selected from the group consisting of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, and polyurethane.

16 . The facet arthroplasty device of claim 1 , wherein the articulating surface having a polycrystalline diamond compact articulates against natural tissues selected from the group consisting of cartilage, bone, and soft tissues.

17 . A method for modifying a facet arthroplasty device having at least one articulating surface, comprising forming a polycrystalline diamond compact on at least a portion of the at least one articulating surface.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising polishing the polycrystalline diamond compact following forming the compact on at least a portion of the at least one articulating surface.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact covers substantially all of the articulating surfaces of the facet arthroplasty device.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the articulating surfaces of the facet arthroplasty device that are covered with a polycrystalline diamond compact have a Knoop hardness of greater than about 6000.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein forming a polycrystalline diamond compact comprises performing a diamond sintering process.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein forming a polycrystalline diamond compact comprises performing an energy beam ablation/deposition process.

23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein forming a polycrystalline diamond compact comprises performing a chemical vapor deposition process.

24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein forming a polycrystalline diamond compact comprises performing a physical vapor deposition process.

25 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising polishing or highly polishing the polycrystalline diamond compact.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jul 13, 2007
From: SDGI HOLDINGS INC.
To: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 019550/0867 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2005
From: MOLZ, FRED; TRIEU, HAI H.
To: SDGI HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 016523/0841 →