Joint endoprostheses are provides which respectively have a joint part with a metallic core, wherein the metallic core is coated, in regions that roll and/or slide on another joint part during execution of the joint function, with a glass-ceramic composite mixture. In one embodiment, the glass-ceramic has the following composition with approximate amounts in wt. %:and furthermore a residual amount of up to about 12.5% of MnO2 and/or Fe2O3 and/or Co2O3.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a joint endoprosthesis which has a joint part with a metallic core, which at least in regions rolls and/or slides on another joint part during execution of the joint function.

Typical examples of such a joint endoprosthesis are an artificial knee joint, a shoulder joint, and above all an artificial hip joint.

In this field various pairings of materials have been known for a long time, for example a metallic joint ball with a sliding partner in the form of an inlay of polyethylene in a pelvic hip socket (acetabulum), and likewise a hard ceramic joint ball with a hard ceramic or composite ceramic insert in an acetabulum.

Now as before, the abrasion phenomena in one of the sliding partners are problematic. Admittedly these are small, but measurable, which as a rule require a change of at least one joint part after a few years. This is not only a heavy burden on the patient, but also represents a considerable cost factor.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a joint endoprosthesis of the kind mentioned at the outset, which is stable for a long time and resistant to abrasion and moreover has a high strength of the joint components. Furthermore, a pairing of joint parts is to be given which has these advantageous properties.

This object is achieved by a joint endoprosthesis having a metallic core coated with any of three different glass-ceramic composite mixtures as set forth below.

All three embodiments provide a joint endoprosthesis which has a joint part with a metallic core, wherein the metallic core is coated with various compositions of a glass-ceramic composite mixture in regions which roll or slide on another joint part during execution of a joint function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment, a composition is proposed, which is set forth below with the components in the following approximate amounts:

ComponentAmount (wt %)SiO245–50%Al2O315–20%ZrO28–12%K2O0–8%Na2O0–7.5%CaO0–2.5%TiO20–1.5%
and furthermore a residual amount of up to about 12.5% of MnO2and/or Fe2O3and/or Co2O3.

The greatest portion in this composition is the glass portion SiO2; by whose use the adhesion to the metallic base stands in the forefront. The components Al2O3and ZrO2substantially influence the abrasion properties.

This composition of the glass ceramic is the hardest of the three embodiments. It is designated as a so-called bionic system, since it makes it possible for the other joint part, likewise with a metallic core, to be coated with a glass-ceramic composite mixture of the same composition. Lifetimes of 15–20 years are expected for the joint prosthesis bearing the described glass-ceramic composition of this embodiment.

According to a second embodiment, the following composition of glass-ceramic is proposed with the components in the following approximate amounts:

ComponentAmount (wt %)SiO235–55%Al2O315–25%TiO210–14%Na2O0–7.5%K2O0–7%ZrO21–5%CaO0–0.5%
and furthermore a residual amount of up to about 24% of MnO2and/or Fe2O3and/or Co2O3and/or CuO.

This system differs from the first embodiment, firstly in that the coating is somewhat softer than the first-named one. A decisive difference, however, is the substantially higher admixture of TiO2. Consequently, an admittedly small, but unavoidable abrasion is tolerable by the body. This system is therefore also designated as anti-allergic. The lifetimes of a joint endoprosthesis equipped therewith may be found to be somewhat smaller than for the first joint endoprosthesis. Also, this system of this glass-ceramic composite mixture is so hard that the other joint part, likewise with a metallic core, can also be coated with the glass-ceramic composite mixture of the same composition as the first joint part.

According to the third embodiment, the first joint part is coated with a glass-ceramic of the following composition with the components present in the indicated approximate amounts:

ComponentAmount (wt %)SiO250–60%Al2O35–10%ZrO25–10%Na2O0–8%CaO0–6%TiO23–5%K2O0–2%Sb2O30–0.5%
and furthermore a residual amount of up to about 20.5% of MnO2and/or Fe2O3and/or Co2O3and/or CuO and/or CeO2.

This alternative makes available the softest material relative to the two other alternatives. Lifetimes of up to 15 years are likewise expected. Because of the relative softness of the material, it is preferably provided that the other joint part, on which the first joint part rolls and/or slides, has a sliding partner made of a ceramic, which is harder than the glass-ceramic composite mixture of the abovementioned composition. In this case, a composite ceramic is particularly preferred for the sliding partner, which is known, for example, from European Patent EP 0 502 082 C. Alternatively, a sliding partner made of polyethylene can be used for this purpose in the second joint part. The thus constructed joint endoprosthesis may be designated as the standard endoprosthesis, which is implanted into the average patient. Likewise, it has a longer lifetime than the known joint endoprostheses made with the pairings of metal against metal, metal against polyethylene, ceramic against polyethylene, etc., with a strength of the components which is clearly higher than with ceramic components in particular.

It is particularly preferred if the metallic cores of the joint parts comprise a cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy. Namely, it has been found that the adhesion strengths of the coatings to this metal are extremely high, so that damage to the coating, for example spalling, is highly improbable.

In all of the embodiments it is preferred that the thickness of the coating be about 200 μm to 600 μm. With an average abrasion of about 5 μm to 8 μm per year, extremely long lifetimes result, which are difficult to attain with material pairings according to the prior art.

The glass ceramic composite mixtures for forming the coatings of the invention are prepared by mixing the components of the composition, i.e., the various oxides which form the coating. The method of mixing is not critical and may be carried out by a variety of methods, which are known in the art per se, for forming glass ceramic coatings. Preferably, the oxide components in the form of powders or other fine particulates are mixed in a suitable binder, vehicle or carrier to form a slurry of the oxide particles.

The slurry may then be applied to the joint part or parts to be coated, for example by spraying the slurry onto the joint part or by dipping or immersing the joint part in the slurry. Next the coating is dried, for example by heating to evaporate the vehicle or carrier. Finally, the coated surface is further heated to fire the mixed oxide coating, so that the oxide particles are baked or sintered together on the surface of the joint part or the binder is cured, for example, depending on the particular method selected to set the coating to form a glass ceramic composite and adhere the composite to the surface and to each other.

Examples of uses of the coatings of the invention are shown in the drawings. InFIG. 1an artificial hip shaft10is shown with a ball joint12for insertion into a hip socket (not shown). The ball joint12is formed of a metallic core14, which is coated with a glass ceramic coating16according to the invention. InFIG. 2a knee joint endoprosthesis20is shown comprising a gliding part22which rolls and/or slides on a mating part24. The gliding part22is formed of a metallic core26, which is coated with a glass ceramic coating28according to the invention.