Valvular annuloplasty rings of a biocompatible low elastic modulus titanium-niobium-zirconium alloy
First Claim
1. An annuloplasty ring for implantation in living body tissue of a patient, the annuloplasty ring having enhanced biocompatibility, comprising:
- components at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy comprising;
(i) titanium; and
(ii) from about 10 to about 20 wt. % niobium or from about 35 to about 50 wt. % niobium;
wherein the alloy is substantially free of toxic elements, said toxic elements being aluminum, manganese, vanadium, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum and chromium, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of an alloying process, the amounts of said impurities and contaminants being insignificant to cause adverse effect on the patient'"'"'s body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An annuloplasty ring of low elastic modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloy to provide enhanced biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, flexibility and strength. Components of the annuloplasty ring can be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by depositing a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating by physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition. The Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be used as a fabrication material for any annuloplasty ring component that either comes into contact with blood, thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear such that a low elastic modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.
115 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An annuloplasty ring for implantation in living body tissue of a patient, the annuloplasty ring having enhanced biocompatibility, comprising:
components at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy comprising; (i) titanium; and (ii) from about 10 to about 20 wt. % niobium or from about 35 to about 50 wt. % niobium; wherein the alloy is substantially free of toxic elements, said toxic elements being aluminum, manganese, vanadium, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum and chromium, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of an alloying process, the amounts of said impurities and contaminants being insignificant to cause adverse effect on the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A annuloplasty ring for implantation in living body tissue of a patient, the annuloplasty ring having enhanced biocompatibility, comprising:
components at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy comprising; (i) titanium; and (ii) niobium and tantalum, wherein the combined wt. % of niobium and tantalum is from about 10 to about 20 wt. % or from about 35 to about 50 wt. %; wherein the alloy is substantially free of toxic elements, said toxic elements being aluminum, manganese, vanadium, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum and chromium, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of an alloying process, the amounts of said impurities and contaminants being insignificant to cause adverse effect on the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification