Patent ID: 8507101

Claim:
A biocorrodible implant, comprising (i) an implant material comprising magnesium or a biocorrodible magnesium alloy and at least one rare earth metal forming a base; and, (ii) a diffusion layer having a thickness of between about 0.01 μm to 20 μm which covers the base and differs in its composition from the base and contains at least one metallic element of the base and at least one corrosion-inhibiting element selected from the group of Al, Zn, Ca, Si, In, Mn, Sc and RE, the concentration of the corrosion-inhibiting element decreasing across the thickness of the diffusion layer from a maximum at an uppermost surface to a lowest concentration at a distal surface proximate the base; (iii) a metal layer having a thickness of between about of 0.01 μm to 20 μm and comprised of at least one of the corrosion-inhibiting elements selected from the group of Al, Zn, Ca, Si, In, Mn, Sc and RE, covering the diffusion layer; and (iv) a passivating layer of metal oxides, metal nitrides or metal fluorides of at least one of the corrosion-inhibiting elements selected from the group of Al, Zn, Ca, Si, In, Mn, Sc and RE, covering the diffusion layer or metal layer.