Patent ID: 8028771

Claim:
A polycrystalline diamond cutting element comprising: a diamond body having a material microstructure comprising a matrix phase of bonded together diamond crystals sintered at high pressure/high temperature conditions in the presence of a catalyst material, the diamond body having a working surface and including interstitial regions disposed between the diamond crystals, wherein the interstitial regions within the diamond body are substantially free of the catalyst material, wherein the diamond body comprises: a first region comprising an infiltrant material disposed within the interstitial regions and that is positioned remote from the surface, the infiltrant material being an elemental Group VIII metal of the Periodic table or an alloy consisting of Group VIII metals; and a second region positioned adjacent the first region, wherein the interstitial regions in the second region are substantially empty, and wherein the second region extends into the body a depth from the working surface; a metallic substrate attached to the body adjacent the body first region.