Ductile TiNb-Ag Coating for Spinal Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implant failures due to infections from pathogens like Staphylococcus epidermidis, which can lead to antibiotic resistance and allergic reactions, and existing nitride coatings are brittle and not suitable for plastic deformation, causing damage and releasing metal ions.
Innovation Solution
A TiNb coating with 1-25 atom% Ag, applied by a machine-based method, which is antimicrobial, ductile, and resistant to mechanical influences, allowing for plastic deformation without damage and reducing hypersensitivity risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nitride coating is applied to provide antimicrobial effect, then infection prevention is improved, but the coating becomes brittle and cannot withstand plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a composite coating system consisting of a nitride base layer providing antimicrobial properties and an additional ductile metal layer (such as titanium, zirconium, or their alloys) that provides mechanical flexibility. This multi-layer composite structure allows the coating to maintain both infection-preventing characteristics and the ability to withstand plastic deformation during implant adaptation procedures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a chromium nitride coating with silver is applied to achieve antimicrobial effect, then Staphylococcus epidermidis colonization is reduced, but allergic reactions may occur due to sensitising properties of chromium nitride
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic chromium element from the coating composition while retaining the beneficial antimicrobial silver component. By eliminating chromium nitride and using alternative base materials such as titanium or zirconium nitrides, the coating maintains its ability to prevent Staphylococcus epidermidis colonization through silver release while avoiding the sensitizing and allergic reactions associated with chromium.
3Adaptability or versatility
If plastic deformation is applied to adapt implant component to anatomical environment, then adaptability is improved, but nitride coating damage occurs leading to metal ion release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite coating structure where a ductile metal layer (titanium, zirconium, or their alloys) is applied over or integrated with the nitride coating. This ductile outer layer acts as a protective barrier that can undergo plastic deformation during implant adaptation procedures without damaging the underlying nitride coating, thereby preventing metal ion release while maintaining the implant's ability to conform to anatomical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a protective ductile metal layer beforehand to cushion and absorb the mechanical stresses of plastic deformation. This pre-applied protective layer prevents direct transmission of deformation forces to the brittle nitride coating, thereby preventing coating damage and subsequent metal ion release during the implant adaptation process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The TiNb—Ag coating effectively prevents Staphylococcus epidermidis colonization, maintains mechanical resistance, and remains intact during deformation, reducing the risk of hypersensitivity and infection while supporting the implant's adaptation to anatomical environments.
Implementation Method 1
The proportion of silver present in this coating is able to prevent an infection caused by pathogens. In this regard, an antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus epidermidis has in particular been demonstrated.
Implementation Method 2
the coated implant surface should be able to withstand any mechanical influences, in particular which arise by the plastic deformation of the implant components
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a coating for an implant component, a method for producing an implant component having said coating, and a use of said coating on an implant component. The coating is intended for an implant component, in particular a spinal implant component, and is a TiNb coating which has, in addition to an atom % proportion of Ti and an atom % proportion of Nb, an atom % proportion of 5-30 atom % of Ag.