Niobium-titanium-zirconium-molybdenum (nbtizrmo) alloys for dental and other medical device applications

• US 6,238,491 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James A. Davidson
• Original Assignee: Davitech, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuneberg, Lee H., Davidson, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wyszomierski, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORILLO, JANELL COMBS
• Application Number:
  US09/305,881
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 148/422, 148/237, 148/421, 420/580, 420/425, 420/426, 420/421, 428/698, 433/201.1, 433/173, 433/2, 433/8-23, 606/76, 606/77, 623/2
• US Class Current: 148/237
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0084 low friction A61B2017/00853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/42 Files for root canals; Handgrips or guiding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0012 characterised by the material or composition, e.g. ceramics, surface layer, metal alloy use of specific materials A61K6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2803 for mandibular reconstruction temporo-mandibular joints A61F2/3099; bone plates for the jaw A61B17/8071
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2875 Skull or cranium A61F2/2803 and A61F2/3099 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30907 Nets or sleeves applied to surface of prostheses or in cement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/34 Acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/367 Proximal or metaphyseal parts of shafts trochanteric devices connected to said proximal parts A61F2/30739
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30922 Hardened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3611 Heads or epiphyseal parts of femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3631 with an integral complete or partial peripheral collar or bearing shoulder at its base
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/365 : Connections of heads to necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00095 : Niobium or Nb-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0097 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/84 : comprising metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/06 : Titanium or titanium alloys
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 14/00 : Alloys based on titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 16/00 : Alloys based on zirconium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 27/02 : Alloys based on vanadium, niobium, or tantalum
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 30/00 : Alloys containing less than 50% by weight of each constituent

Abstract

The present invention is a medical implant or device fabricated, in any manner, from a niobium (Nb)—titanium (Ti)—zirconium (Zr)—Molybdenum (Mo) alloy (NbTiZrMo alloy). The implant or device has components at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy comprising a) between about 29 and 70 weight percent Nb; b) between about 10 and 46 weight percent Zr; c) between about 3 and 15 weight percent Mo; and a balance of titanium. The inventive alloy provides for a uniform beta structure which is corrosion resistant, and can be readily processed to develop high-strength and low-modulus, with the ability for conversion oxidation or nitridization surface hardening of the medical implant or device.

Claims

1. A medical implant or deve fabricated from a niobium (Nb)—

titanium (Ti)—

zirconium (Zr)—

Molybdenum (Mo) alloy (NbTiZrMo alloy), said medical implant or device comprising;

components at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy consisting of;

(a) between about 29 and 70 weight percent Nb

(b) between about 10 and 46 weight percent Zr

(c) between about 3 and 15 weight percent Mo

(d) and a balance of titanium;

wherein no other alloy exceeds the amount of Nb, and the alloy provides for a uniform beta structure which is uniform and corrosion resisting, and is capable of being readily processed to develop high-strength and low-modulus, with the ability for conversion oxidation or nitridization surface hardening of the medical implant or device.

2. A medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the alloy further allows up to about 3 weight percent contaminants of at least one element selection from the group consisting of Si, P, Cu Fe, Ta, Hf, Sn, and Pd.

3. A medical implant device of claim 1, further comprising at least one intersticial strengthening element selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon.

4. A medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the alloy composition is niobium with about 35 weight percent titanium, about 25 weight percent zirconium, and about 5 weight percent molybdenum.

5. A medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said implant or device has been surface hardened by a process selected from the group consisting of oxidation, nitriding and carbonitriding to form a hard, diffusion-bonded, conversion surface oxide, nitride or carbonitride.

6. A medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said implant or device has been surface hardened by a process selected from the group consisting of oxygen diffusion hardening or nitrogen diffusion hardening, leaving a metallic-type appearance.

7. The medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a surface of said implant or device is coated with a low-friction coating.

8. The medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the implant or device is coated with an agent to improve hemo-compatibility;

soft tissue attachment, or bone attachment, said agent selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, anti-thrombogenics, pro-thrombogenics, anti-inflammatories, morphogenic proteins, peptides, growth factors, stem celles, hyaluronan, and polyethylene glycol.

9. The medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the medical implant or device is selected from a group consisting of an orthodontic, endodontic, dental implant, and other dental device.

10. The medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the medical implant or device is an orthopaedic device selected from a group consisting of devices for joint replacement, tissue anchoring, bone substitute, trauma repair, spinal fixation and repair, maxillo-facial and cranial repair, or middle ear and drain tube devices.

11. The medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the medical implant or device is a cardiovascular device selected from a group consisting of a vascular stent, heart valve, annuloplasty ring, heart pump or assist device, pacing or defibrilation lead wires, and flexible delivery or guide wires.

12. A medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the implant or device is shaped as an orthodontic arch wire.

13. A medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the implant or device is shaped as an orthodontic bracket for a attachment to a human tooth.

14. A medical implant or device of claim 1, when the implant or device is shaped as an endodontic file configured for root canal insertion.

15. A medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the implant or device is shaped as a fixture for implantation into a jaw bone.

16. A medical implant or device of claim 1, wherein the implant or device comprises components at least partially fabricated from metal alloys falling within the shaded area of FIG. 7D.

17. A niobium (Nb)—

titanium (Ti)—

zirconium (Zr)—

molybdenum (Mo) alloy (NbTiZrMo alloy), consisting of;

(a) between about 29 and 70 weight pent Nb

(b) between about 10 and 46 weight percent Zr

(c) between about 3 and 15 weight percent Mo

(d) up to about 3 wt. % of one or more contaminant elements each selected from the group consisting of Si P, Cu, F, Ta, Hf, Sn and Pd, up to about 1 wt % each; and

(e) a balance of titanium;

wherein no other alloy constituent excoedis the amount of Nb.