Patent ID: 8556972

Claim:
A monolithic orthopedic implant made entirely of a brittle, non-resorbable, monolithic material and having an overall implant variability of strength measured as an overall implant Weibull Modulus, the implant comprising: a porous region having a first variability of strength measured as a first Weibull Modulus; a transition region located over and integrally joined to the porous region and having a second variability of strength measured as a second Weibull Modulus, wherein the second variability of strength is less than the first variability of strength, and wherein the second Weibull Modulus is greater than the first Weibull Modulus; a dense region located over and integrally joined to the transition region and having a third variability of strength measured as a third Weibull Modulus, wherein the third variability of strength is less than the second variability of strength, and wherein the third Weibull Modulus is greater than the second Weibull Modulus; and a surface on top of the dense region, the surface having a finish adapted for articulation against native articular cartilage; wherein the overall implant variability of strength is less than the third variability of strength, and wherein the overall implant Weibull Modulus is greater than the third Weibull Modulus.