Implant surface preparation
View Patent ↗The surface of a device that is surgically implantable in living bone is prepared. The device is made of titanium with a native oxide layer on the surface. The method of preparation comprises the steps of removing the native oxide layer from the surface of the device and performing further treatment of the surface substantially in the absence of unreacted oxygen.
1. A method of preparing the surface of an implant to be surgically implanted in living bone and made of titanium, the implant having a surface with a native oxide layer thereon, the method comprising the steps of:
removing the native oxide layer from the surface;
acid etching the surface from which the native oxide layer has been removed to form a surface roughness; and
depositing a layer of hydroxyapatite on the acid-etched surface.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing occurs in the absence of oxygen.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing includes adhering, the adhering being enhanced by the roughness of the acid-etched surface.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite in the form of particles.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxapatite in the form of a film.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite so as not to disturb the surface from which the native oxide layer has been removed to form a surface roughness.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite using an inert atmosphere.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing includes distributing hydroxyapatite, the distributing being enhanced by the surface roughness.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the removing the native oxide layer is carried out by an acid etching process.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface roughness have peak-to-valley heights less than 10 microns.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the acid-etching includes producing a surface roughness with an array of irregularities.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite in the form of fine particles that become entrapped on the irregularities.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite in the form of particles that become entrapped between the irregularities.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the irregularities have peak-to-valley heights less than 10 microns.
15. A method of preparing a surface of a device that is surgically implantable in living bone, the device being made of titanium and having a native oxide layer on the surface, the method comprising the steps of:
removing the native oxide layer from the surface of the device until the depth of the peak-to-peak oxygen profile as measured by Auger spectrometer has decreased to one-half of the initial profile;
after the removing, performing a roughening treatment on the surface resulting from the removing to produce a roughened surface with an array of irregularities; and
after the performing a roughening treatment on the surface, depositing a layer of hydroxyapatite on the surface.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the performing of the roughening treatment includes acid etching.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the depositing occurs in the absence of oxygen.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite in the form of particles.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxapatite in the form of a film.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the removing the native oxide layer is carried out by an acid etching process.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein the irregularities have peak-to-valley heights less than 10 microns.
22. The method of claim 15 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite in the form of particles that become entrapped on the irregularities.
23. The method of claim 15 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite in the form of particles that become entrapped between the irregularities.
24. The method of claim 15 wherein the depositing includes applying hydroxyapatite in the form of particles that become entrapped on and between the irregularities.
25. A method of preparing the surface of an implant to be surgically implanted in living bone and made of titanium, the implant having a surface with a native oxide layer thereon, the method comprising the steps of:
removing the native oxide layer from the surface;
acid etching the surface from which the native oxide layer has been removed to form a surface roughness; and
depositing a layer of bone growth enhancing material on the acid-etched surface.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the depositing includes applying the bone growth enhancing material in the form of particles.
27. The method of claim 25 wherein the depositing includes applying the bone growth enhancing material in the form of a film.
28. The method of claim 25 wherein the bone growth enhancing material is hydroxyapatite.
29. The method of claim 25 wherein the removing the native oxide layer is carried out by an acid etching process.
30. The method of claim 25 wherein the surface roughness includes irregularities having peak-to-valley heights less than 10 microns.
31. The method of claim 25 wherein the acid-etching includes producing a surface roughness with an array of irregularities.
32. The method of claim 1 , further including the act of grit blasting the surface prior to the act of removing the native oxide layer.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the act of grit blasting includes using titanium grit.
34. The method of claim 15 , further including the act of grit blasting the surface prior to the act of removing the native oxide layer.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of grit blasting includes using titanium grit.