Patent ID: 9277998
Filing Date: 2016-03-08
CPC Classification: A61F,B22F,C23C

Claim Text:
1. A method of operating a chemical vapor infiltration apparatus to produce an orthopedic implant, the method comprising the steps of: placing a porous substrate in a reaction chamber of the chemical vapor infiltration apparatus, the reaction chamber having a first end and a second end with an exhaust gas outlet located proximate said second end; exposing the porous substrate to a process gas in the reaction chamber as the process gas flows through the reaction chamber in a direction toward the exhaust gas outlet, wherein the process gas carries a biocompatible metal for depositing the biocompatible metal onto the porous substrate in the reaction chamber; and controlling temperature in the reaction chamber during said exposing, wherein said controlling includes creating a temperature profile in the reaction chamber in which temperatures increase in said direction toward the exhaust gas outlet, wherein the chemical vapor infiltration apparatus includes a repositionable heat source positioned around the reaction chamber for providing heat to the reaction chamber during said exposing.