Cardiovascular implants of enhanced biocompatibility
First Claim
1. An external mechanical heart having component parts including a blood pump, tubes and an electric motor, said pump including moving parts such as input and output valves and cam assemblies, said component parts having enhanced hemocompatibility, comprising:
- components of the external mechanical heart, said component parts including a blood pump, tubes, and an electric motor, with said blood pump including moving parts comprising input and output valves and cam assemblies,wherein said component parts are 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 enhances the hemocompatibility of said component parts and is free of toxic elements, 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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cardiovascular and other medical implants fabricated from low-modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The cardiovascular implants may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. The cardiovascular implants include heart valves, total artificial heart implants, ventricular assist devices, vascular grafts, stents, electrical signal carrying devices such as pacemaker and neurological leads, defibrillator leads, and the like. It is contemplated that the Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any cardiovascular implant 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
17 Claims
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1. An external mechanical heart having component parts including a blood pump, tubes and an electric motor, said pump including moving parts such as input and output valves and cam assemblies, said component parts having enhanced hemocompatibility, comprising:
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components of the external mechanical heart, said component parts including a blood pump, tubes, and an electric motor, with said blood pump including moving parts comprising input and output valves and cam assemblies, wherein said component parts are 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 enhances the hemocompatibility of said component parts and is free of toxic elements, 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An external mechanical heart having component parts including a blood pump, tubes and an electric motor, said pump including moving parts such as input and output valves and cam assemblies, said component parts having enhanced hemocompatibility, comprising:
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component parts, said component parts including a blood pump, tubes and an electric motor, said pump including moving parts such as input and output valves and cam assemblies wherein said component parts are 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 enhances the hemocompatibility of said components and is free of toxic elements, 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification