Cardiovascular implants of enhanced biocompatibility
First Claim
1. A biocompatible lead for conducting electrical signals to or from an organ in a living body, the lead having enhanced hemocompatibility, comprising:
- an elongate flexible body having distal and proximal ends and an electrically conductive core for conducting electrical signals, the core at least partially fabricated from a biocompatible and hemocompatible metal alloy, the alloy comprising;
(i) titanium; and
(ii) niobium selected from a non-continuous range of about 10 to about 20 wt. % niobium and from about 35 to about 50 wt % niobium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical leads fabricated from low-modulus Ti-Nb-Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The medical leads may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. It is contemplated that the Ti-Nb-Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any portion of a medical lead that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A biocompatible lead for conducting electrical signals to or from an organ in a living body, the lead having enhanced hemocompatibility, comprising:
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an elongate flexible body having distal and proximal ends and an electrically conductive core for conducting electrical signals, the core at least partially fabricated from a biocompatible and hemocompatible metal alloy, the alloy comprising; (i) titanium; and (ii) niobium selected from a non-continuous range of about 10 to about 20 wt. % niobium and from about 35 to about 50 wt % niobium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A biocompatible lead for conducting electrical signals to or from an organ in a living body, the lead having enhanced hemocompatibility, comprising:
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an elongate flexible body having distal and proximal ends and an electrically conductive core for conducting electrical signals, the core at least partially fabricated from a biocompatible and hemocompatible metal alloy, the alloy comprising; (i) titanium; and (ii) niobium and tantalum, with a combined wt. % of niobium and tantalum selected from a non-continuous range of about 10 to about 20 wt. % and from about 35 to about 50 wt. %. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification