Ceramic antibacterial
Bacterial growth or infection, especially with respect to an implant and/or tissue about the implant, can be ameliorated, controlled or eliminated by identifying a potential for or a presence of bacterial growth or infection with respect to tissue about an implant proposed for implantation; selecting as the implant a ceramic implant; and implanting the ceramic implant under conditions such that bacterial growth or infection, especially with respect to the implanted ceramic implant and/or tissue about the implanted ceramic implant, is ameliorated, controlled or eliminated at least in part from the presence of the implanted ceramic implant. Among ceramics that may be employed is a magnesium oxide stabilized transformationally toughened zirconia. The ceramic implant may be a prosthesis, which may be a load-bearing joint replacement implant or implant component.
1 . A method for amelioration, control or elimination of bacterial growth or infection, especially with respect to an implant and/or tissue about the implant, which comprises identifying a potential for or a presence of bacterial growth or infection with respect to an implant and/or tissue about the implant proposed for implantation; selecting as the implant a ceramic implant; and implanting the ceramic implant under conditions such that bacterial growth or infection, especially with respect to the implanted ceramic implant and/or the tissue about the implanted ceramic implant, is ameliorated, controlled or eliminated at least in part from the presence of the implanted ceramic implant.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a contact-isolated area is identified on the ceramic implant.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the ceramic implant is a load-bearing orthopedic prosthetic implant.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the ceramic implant is selected from the group consisting of an enarthrodial joint component, a ginglymous joint component, and a spinal vertebrae component.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the ceramic implant is selected from the group consisting of a joint ball head, a femoral component for a knee, a tibial component for a knee, and a disc replacement set.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic is an MgO-TTZ.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the ceramic is an MgO-TTZ.
8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the ceramic is an MgO-TTZ.
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ceramic is an MgO-TTZ.
10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the ceramic is an MgO-TTZ.