Patent ID: 7241313
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: A61F,A61L,B33Y,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a surgical implant comprising a core region and a porous surface region extending over at least a part of said core region, the porous surface region having a predetermined pore volume fraction, the method comprising the steps of: (i) loading metallic powder having a predetermined particle size distribution around a pre-formed core in a sealable capsule, (ii) reducing pressure within said capsule to a predetermined pressure below atmospheric pressure, (iii) pressurising said capsule with a process gas to a predetermined pressure higher than the predetermined pressure of step (ii), (iv) sealing said capsule, (v) heating said pressurised sealed capsule at an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a predetermined time to produce an implant precursor, (vi) cooling said sealed capsule, and (vii) heating said implant precursor for a predetermined time at an elevated temperature and a predetermined pressure below atmospheric pressure, whereby to generate porosity in said implant precursor.