54 results about "Metallic implant" patented technology

This invention relates to orthopedic implants and to methods of treating bone defects. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention is directed to non-metallic implants and to methods for intra-operative assembly and fixation of orthopedic implants to facilitate medical treatment. The non-metallic implant assembly can be secured to underlying tissue by a fastener, such as a bone screw, that is capable of swelling on contact with fluid in the underlying tissue. Alternatively, the non-metallic implant assembly can be assembled intra-operatively using a fastener that is adhesively bonded to a bone plate or the bone plate can be deformed using heat, force, or solvents to inhibit withdrawal of the fastener. In preferred embodiments, both the fastener and the bone plate are formed of biodegradable material.

According to an aspect of the invention, implantable medical devices are provided which contain at least one biodegradable metallic region and a polymeric corrosion resistant coating over the biodegradable metallic region. The polymeric corrosion resistant coating slows the rate of corrosion of the biodegradable metallic region upon implantation into a subject.

A metallic inverted L-shaped implant is used to resurface the superior facet of the inferior vertebrae limited to the facet joints located on the spine, Occiput-C1 through L5-S1. The metallic implant is highly polished on its exterior and textured on its interior surface. It is mechanically crimped in place without the use of cement or pedicle screws. Permanent fixation occurs when bone in-grows onto a rough, porous surface on the inside of the implant. The implant employed in a hemi-arthroplasty method resurfaces half of the facet joint to provide for smooth, pain free joint articulation in deteriorated or diseased spinal facet joints without the need for major surgery or rehabilitation at considerably less risk to the patient.

The invention provides a method of providing a metallic orthopaedic implant with a micron or nanometer-scale surface roughness to facilitate acceptance of tissue and bone growth or apposition after implantation while maintaining the structural integrity of the orthopaedic implant. The invention also provides a metallic orthopaedic implant comprising a metallic body and metallic elements adhered to a portion of the surface of the metallic body to define a three-dimensional porous surface geometry, wherein at least some of the metallic elements have a micron or nanometer-scale surface roughness.

A mediator molecule is immobilized on the surface of a metallic or ceramic implant material. An anchor molecule such as a dialdehyde having a functional group that covalently binds the mediator molecule is covalently bound to the surface, and the mediator molecule is coupled to the functional group of the anchor molecule. The implant material may be composed of titanium, titanium alloy, aluminum, stainless steel or hydroxylapatite. Oxide units on the surface of the implant material can be increased preferably by treating with hot chromic-sulphuric acid for 0.5 to 3 hours at a temperature between 100 to 250° C. prior to binding the anchor molecule. Also, prior to binding the anchor molecule, the surface of the implant material can be activated by reacting with a silane derivative. Mediator molecules include BMP protein, ubiquitin and antibiotics, and the implant material may be an artificial joint or coronary vessel support such as a stent.

A metallic inverted L-shaped implant is used to resurface the superior facet of the inferior vertebrae limited to the facet joints located on the spine, Occiput-C1 through L5-S1. The metallic implant is highly polished on its exterior and textured on its interior surface. It is mechanically crimped in place without the use of cement or pedicle screws. Permanent fixation occurs when bone in-grows onto a rough, porous surface on the inside of the implant. The implant employed in a hemi-arthroplasty method resurfaces half of the facet joint to provide for smooth, pain free joint articulation in deteriorated or diseased spinal facet joints without the need for major surgery or rehabilitation at considerably less risk to the patient.

Compositions containing strontium fortified calcium nanoparticles and / or microparticles, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The strontium fortified calcium compounds contain calcium ions, calcium atoms, strontium ions, strontium atoms, and combinations thereof and one or more anions. Exemplary anions include, but are not limited to, citrate, phosphate, carbonate, and combinations thereof. The particles can be formulated for enteral or parenteral administration by incorporating the particles into a pharmaceutically carrier. The compositions can further contain one or more active agents useful for bone diseases or disorders, such as vitamin D, growth factors, and combinations thereof. The compositions can be used to treat or prevent one or more bone diseases or disorders of the bone, such as osteoporosis. Alternatively, the particles can be coated onto a substrate, such as the surface of an implant. The coatings can be used to improved biocompatibility of the implant, prevent loosening of the implant, reducing leaching of metal ions from metallic implants, and reduce corrosion. The coatings can be applied to the substrate using a variety of techniques well known in the art. In one embodiment, the coating is applied using electrophoretic deposition. The use of nano- and / or microparticles that provide high surface area helps to improve interfacial strength between the coating and the implant, which allows for the use of lower sintering temperatures. Lowering sintering temperatures minimizes or prevents thermal decomposition of the coating material and / or degradation of the implant material.

A method and system for facilitating error free scan is disclosed herein. The system for preventing wrong scan administration to a patient comprises: an identifier associated with a patient for identifying at least one patient parameter. The patient parameter may be configured to indicate patient information such as pregnancy or the presence of metallic implants. An interrogator is provided for automatically interrogating the identifier to obtain the at least one patient parameter during one or more predefined stages when the patient is in proximity of a scanner. A controller is operatively coupled to the interrogator for generating a wrong scan signal based on the communicated information.

This invention relates to orthopedic implants and to methods of treating bone defects. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention is directed to non-metallic implants and to methods for intra-operative assembly and fixation of orthopedic implants to facilitate medical treatment. The non-metallic implant assembly can be secured to underlying tissue by a fastener, such as a bone screw, that is capable of swelling on contact with fluid in the underlying tissue. Alternatively, the non-metallic implant assembly can be assembled intra-operatively using a fastener that is adhesively bonded to a bone plate or the bone plate can be deformed using heat, force, or solvents to inhibit withdrawal of the fastener. In preferred embodiments, both the fastener and the bone plate are formed of biodegradable material.

Methods for performing spinal fusions using an injectable calcium phosphate-based bone substitute are provided. The injectable bone substitute is injected into the anterior portion of an interbody space and allowed to solidify in vivo. The injectable bone substitute has a minimum compression strength of 10 MPa after setting for about 30 minutes and preferably solidifies to a compression strength of 25 MPa within 24 hours of injection. Optionally, the posterior portion of the interbody space is fixed using a metallic implant selected from rods and pedicle screws or plates and pedicle screws by attachment thereof to adjacent vertebrae.

The present invention is directed to a novel implantable lead design which ensures safe magnetic resonance imaging of patients with active metallic implants such as pacemakers, neurostimulators and implantable cardio defibrillators. It is known that radio frequency and gradient fields of the MRI scanners may induce harmful currents on the implant leads. The present invention provides for the use of semiconductor components such as transistors and diodes to prevent such undesired induced currents on the implant leads. Circuits on the implants are designed such that while the induction of currents is prevented, the desired signal transmission in between the implanted pulse generator and the body part is maintained.

A process for treating a metallic implant consisting essentially of treating the metallic implant with a solution of hydrofluoric acid, which solution has a pH between 1.6 and 3.0.

The invention relates to a metallic implant, which has vitreous-crystalline bioactive material on the surface thereof. According to the invention, a metallic implant base body arranged on the surface of the particles has a bioactive, vitreous-crystalline material consisting of 15-45 wt. % CaO, 40-45 wt. % P2O5, 10-40 wt. % ZrO2 and 0.7-3.5 wt. % fluoride, having apatite and calcium zirconium phosphate as main crystalline and a glass phase as an auxiliary component. Said vitreous crystalline material contains at least 35 wt. % main crystal phases and at least 5-15 wt. % auxiliary compounds. All of the percentage data is expressed in relation to the total weight of the vitreous crystalline material and the particle size of the vitreous crystalline material is between 60-350 mum.

A method and apparatus are provided for determining and tracking location of a metallic object in a living body, and then directing a second modality such as ultrasound waves to the determined location. The metal detector may be a radar detector adapted to operate on a living body. The adaption may include disposing a transfer material having electromagnetic properties similar to the body between the radar detector and the living body, ECG gating the radar detector, and / or employing an optimal estimator with a model of expected stent movement in a living body. Applications include determination of extent of in-stent restenosis, performing therapeutic thrombolysis, or determining operational features of a metallic implant.

A process for treating a metallic implant consisting essentially of treating the metallic implant with a solution of hydrofluoric acid, which solution has a pH between 1.6 and 3.0.

A metal implant, in particular a dental implant, with a hydrophilic surface for at least partial insertion into a bone, and a method for the production of said implant are described. A particularly advantageous hydrophilic surface for improved osteointegration properties is made available if it is briefly treated, at least in some areas, in a weakly alkaline solution. These excellent osteointegration properties can be achieved in a method in which, optionally after a preceding mechanical surface modification by material removal and / or chemical surface modification, at least the areas exposed of this surface exposed to bone and / or soft tissue are chemically modified in an alkaline solution.

A system and method for magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed, the MRI apparatus comprising a computer programmed to acquire a plurality of 3D MR data sets, each 3D MR data set acquired using a central transmit frequency and a central receive frequency set to an offset frequency value that is distinct for each 3D MR data set, wherein at least a portion of each 3D MR data set is accelerated k-space data, and wherein at least one of the plurality of 3D MR data sets comprises fully-sampled calibration k-space data lines. The computer is also programmed to determine reconstruction weights from the fully-sampled calibration k-space data lines, reconstruct an image for each 3D MR data set using the reconstruction weights from the fully-sampled calibration k-space data lines to synthesize unacquired data, and generate a composite image from the reconstructed images based on the plurality of 3D MR data sets.

The invention relates to application of pure titanium and titanium alloy (hereinafter called titanium) surface-etched TiO2 nano-porous array appearance in preparing human metal implant which can be a dental implant, a bone implant, a fixing plate and a fixing nail, wherein the appearance is to prepare a TiO2 nano-porous array structure on the titanium surface. The invention also provides an optimal preparation method of the appearance. The preparation method has the advantages that: the preparation can be performed at normal temperature and normal pressure; the prepared TiO2 nano-porous array is regular; and the method is relatively simple in process, convenient for operation, low in cost and short in process flow. The prepared titanium surface nano-porous array structure has selective effect to different types of cells, so that the success rate of implant can be greatly increased; the nano-porous array structure can inhibit fibroblast from adhering or multiplying on the surface of the structure, so that the success rate of bone and dental implant operation and bone internal fixation can be greatly improved; and therefore, the preparation method is a bone implant material and bone fixation material surface appearance modification method with clinical application prospect.

A detection and guide system provides access to desired blood vessel locations. An implant formed of a biocompatible material is implanted within a mammalian body proximate an outer surface of a blood vessel. The detection and guide system may be configured to be positioned outside the mammalian body to detect the implant and to guide a needle to the desired entry site of the biological boundary structure. A needle guide may be coupled to a housing of the detection and guide system and directed at an angle such that positioning the implant detector over the implant aligns an opening through the needle guide with the desired entry site. The detection and guide system may, for example, provide metal detection of a metallic implant or magnetic detection of a magnetic implant.

Described is a method for the production of metal salts, wherein the cationic metal is preferably selected from Group I to IV metals and mixtures thereof and the anionic group is selected from phosphates, silicates, sulfates, carbonates, hydroxides, fluorides and mixtures thereof, and wherein said method comprises forming a mixture of at least one metal source that is a metal carboxylate with a mean carbon value per carboxylate group of at least 3 and at least one anion source into droplets and oxiding said droplets in a high temperature environment, preferably a flame. This method is especially suited for the production of calcium phosphate biomaterials such as hydroxyapatite (HAp,Cal0(P04)6(OH)2) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP,Ca3(P04)2) that exhibit excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity and therefore are widely used for reparation of bony or periodontal defects, coating of metallic implants and bone space fillers.

A method of fabricating a conductive prosthetic, such as a stent, with a dimpled surface comprising the steps of: (i) providing a blank; (ii) electrochemically eroding superfluous material to leave a structural skeleton, (iii) electropolishing, (iv) dimpling the surface of the structural skeleton by selectively electrochemically eroding recesses on the surface of the prosthetic and (v) impregnating the recesses with a bioactive material, and prosthetics such as stents with dimpled surfaces fabricated thereby.

A technique for reconstructing a corrected MR image from MR images distorted by foreign object induced magnetic fields includes locating a foreign object in a subject and defining a localized area of a field of view about the foreign object where a magnetic field distortion adversely affects a first magnetic distortion correction technique. The first magnetic distortion correction technique is applied to the field of view other than in the localized area. A second magnetic distortion correction technique is applied to the localized area and the results of the application of the first and second magnetic distortion correction techniques are combined. An image is reconstructed based on the results of the application of the first and second magnetic distortion correction techniques.

A chamber for testing the reactivity of patient fluids to a metallic implant alloy, such as CoCrMo, and a method of determining the reactivity of the patent to the alloy. A sealed mini-electrochemical cell incorporates the alloy surface as well as reference and counter electrodes coupled to a potentiostat for performing electrochemical measurements of the alloy surface while it is in direct contact with freshly harvested human fluids. Freshly obtained body fluids are thus assessed in terms of their bioelectrochemical reactivity with the alloy surface as a measure of the likely reactivity of the patient to the alloy if it were to be implanted into the patient.

This invention provides a process for the preparation of protein mediated calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating on metal substrates particularly on stainless steel (316 L) by biomimetic route, capable of rapid and effective osteointegration with the host tissue following controlled interfacial reactions. For the purpose, calcium deficient, carbonated hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating was developed on metal substrates particularly on stainless steel (316L) alloy through biomimetic route after a surface treatment step using aqueous solution (4-10 wt %) of BSA at room temperature. The coating was characterised with respect to phase composition, crystallinity, morphology and thickness. The protein mediated calcium phosphate ceramic coating is porous (pore dia—100-200 μm) having uniform pore distribution and coverage. There is multifold enhancement in thickness and crystallinity (data provided) of the as-prepared coating. The process in the present invention is designed to mimic the structural and characteristic properties of the biological apatite to expedite osteointegration kinetics and to further improve biocompatibility of the metallic implant.

A biologic glass ceramic CaO-P2O5-Na2O-TiO2-ZrO2 is proportionally prepared from CaO and P2O5 (80-90 mol%), Na2O (4-7), and TiO2 and ZrO2 (rest) through proportional mixing, drying, heating for smelting, pouring on stainless steel plate, punching to obtain glass balls, grinding, cold pressing and sintering. It can be used as the substitute of human hard tissue. Its advantages are no SiO2 and toxic elements, high bioactivity and biologic compatibility, and high strength and machinability.

A technique for reconstructing a corrected MR image from MR images distorted by foreign object induced magnetic fields includes locating a foreign object in a subject and defining a localized area of a field of view about the foreign object where a magnetic field distortion adversely affects a first magnetic distortion correction technique. The first magnetic distortion correction technique is applied to the field of view other than in the localized area. A second magnetic distortion correction technique is applied to the localized area and the results of the application of the first and second magnetic distortion correction techniques are combined. An image is reconstructed based on the results of the application of the first and second magnetic distortion correction techniques.

The present invention relates generally to a bio-degradable implant based on magnesium having a reduced corrosion rate and to a method for the production of such an implant. It is a a method for treating a surface of a bio-degradable metallic implant comprising the following steps: providing a dispersed system comprising a colloid-dispersed apatite and adding an apatite powder to the dispersed system, subjecting an implant to the dispersed system such that a surface of the implant which is to be treated is immersed in the dispersed system wherein the implant comprises a magnesium based alloy, applying an AC voltage difference between the implant as a first electrode and a second electrode positioned in the dispersed system for generating a plasma electrolytic oxidation on the immersed surface of the implant so that the immersed surface is converted to an oxide film which is at least partially covered by apatites formed by the colloid-dispersed apatite and the apatite powder. The evolution of corrosion induced hydrogen gas evolution is decreased and osseointegration is improved.

In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus, the magnetic resonance apparatus is operated according to a SEMAC (Slice Encoding for Metal Artifact Correction) sequence, and, before executing the SEMAC sequence, a scout sequence is implemented, which is a SEMAC sequence but without phase encoding in the direction perpendicular to the slice selection direction. The number of SEMAC coding steps can then be determined before executing the SEMAC sequence, so that an unnecessarily high number of SEMAC coding steps is avoided.

The invention relates to a replacement metallic prosthesis to be implanted which contains means monitor its condition during use in order to allow an early detection of failure or insufficient functionality, wherein said means comprise implanted sensors and electronics (3) and a remote device (9), to measure the implant's function and degradation during its life span, wherein said sensors are electro chemical sensors with electrodes (1). The prosthesis according to the invention may also be used to promote bone growth. The invention also relates to a method using the device of the invention.

A system and method for magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed, the MRI apparatus comprising a computer programmed to acquire a plurality of 3D MR data sets, each 3D MR data set acquired using a central transmit frequency and a central receive frequency set to an offset frequency value that is distinct for each 3D MR data set, wherein at least a portion of each 3D MR data set is accelerated k-space data, and wherein at least one of the plurality of 3D MR data sets comprises fully-sampled calibration k-space data lines. The computer is also programmed to determine reconstruction weights from the fully-sampled calibration k-space data lines, reconstruct an image for each 3D MR data set using the reconstruction weights from the fully-sampled calibration k-space data lines to synthesize unacquired data, and generate a composite image from the reconstructed images based on the plurality of 3D MR data sets.