Surface for use on an implantable device
First Claim
1. An irregular exterior surface portion on a substrate material which is particularly adapted to be joined to a second material, the surface portion to be so joined comprising a plurality of randomly sized and spaced protrusions located upon said surface portion, produced by the method comprising the steps of:
- a) masking said surface portion in a random pattern with a maskant material, such that less than the entire surface portion is covered thereby;
b) electrochemically etching said surface portion such that said substrate material is removed thereby in areas uncovered by said maskant material, and areas covered by said maskant material are left intact;
c) removing said maskant material; and
d) repeating said masking, electrochemically etching and removing steps upon said surface portion until a desired surface irregularity is achieved.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An attachment surface for an implantable device has a random irregular pattern formed through a repetitive masking and chemical milling process. Additionally, an attachment surface for an implantable device has a random irregular pattern formed through a repetitive masking and electrochemical milling process. The electrochemical milling process is particularly well suited for use with substrate materials which have high chemical inertness which makes them resistant to chemical etching. Surface material is removed from the implant surface without stress on the adjoining material and the process provides fully dimensional fillet radii at the base of the surface irregularities. This irregular surface is adapted to receive the ingrowth of bone material and to provide a strong anchor for that bone material. The unitary nature of the substrate and surface features provides a strong anchoring surface with is resistant to cracking or breaking. The surface is prepared through an etching process which utilizes the random application of a maskant and subsequent etching of the metallic substrate in areas unprotected by the maskant. This chemical etching process is repeated a number of times as necessitated by the nature of the irregularities required in the surface. The etching characteristics are controlled by the time, temperature and number of repetitions utilized in the etching process.
104 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An irregular exterior surface portion on a substrate material which is particularly adapted to be joined to a second material, the surface portion to be so joined comprising a plurality of randomly sized and spaced protrusions located upon said surface portion, produced by the method comprising the steps of:
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a) masking said surface portion in a random pattern with a maskant material, such that less than the entire surface portion is covered thereby;
b) electrochemically etching said surface portion such that said substrate material is removed thereby in areas uncovered by said maskant material, and areas covered by said maskant material are left intact;
c) removing said maskant material; and
d) repeating said masking, electrochemically etching and removing steps upon said surface portion until a desired surface irregularity is achieved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification