Coated articles
A metallic biomedical article, preferably an orthopaedic implant, instrument or tool, for use in contact with internal human body tissue, having a first silver containing metal nitride coating thereon, and process for making the same, is provided.
1. A metallic biomedical article for use in contact with internal human or animal body tissue, having a first silver-containing metal nitride coating thereon,
wherein the metal nitride coating is of (A x B y C Z )Q-Ag, where Q is selected from the group consisting of N, CN, BN, CBN, NO, CNO, BNO and CBNO, and
wherein A, B and C are independently selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al, Cr, Ta, Y, W, Pt, Au, Cu, Si, Nb and B, and
wherein 0.25<x+y+z<4.0.
2. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 1 , wherein the silver-containing metal nitride coating has been deposited by a PVD and/or CVD method.
3. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 1 , wherein the first coating is a gradient coating with the silver content incremented or decreased towards the surface.
4. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 1 , which comprises titanium, titanium alloys, zirconium, zirconium alloys, cobalt/chromium based alloys, stainless steel or mixtures thereof.
5. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 4 , which is an implant, instrument or tool.
6. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 5 , which is an orthopaedic implant.
7. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 6 , where the implant is an articulating orthopaedic implant.
8. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 1 , wherein the silver-containing metal nitride coating comprises from 0.1 to 99 wt % silver.
9. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 8 , wherein the silver-containing metal nitride coating comprises from 0.5 to 35 wt % silver.
10. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 9 , wherein the silver-containing metal nitride coating comprises from 1 to 25 wt % silver.
11. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 10 which has a second coating thereon.
12. A metallic biomedical article according to claim 10 , wherein the second coating is a second silver-containing metal nitride coating on the outer surface of the component, and contains a greater amount of silver than the first silver-containing metal nitride coating.