Patent ID: 8415019
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: A61C,A61F,A61L,C01B,C21D,C23C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A medical implant comprising: a substrate comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy; a diffusion hardened zone in contact with said substrate, said diffusion hardened zone comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy and a diffusion hardening species, said diffusion hardened zone having a thickness of greater than 2 microns; and a ceramic zone having a layered structure comprising three layers and having: a surface layer comprising zirconium and nitrogen, a second layer adjacent the surface layer comprising zirconium, oxygen and nitrogen, and a third layer adjacent to the said second layer comprising zirconium and oxygen, wherein said ceramic zone is in contact with said diffusion hardened zone, and said ceramic layers range in thickness from 0.1 to 25 microns; and wherein the total thickness of the ceramic zone and the diffusion hardened zone is 5 microns or greater.