Stainless steel alloy having lowered nickel-chromium toxicity and improved biocompatibility

• US 6,582,652 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Craig, Charles Horace
• Primary Examiner(s): Yee; Deborah
• Application Number:
  US09/854,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20030053925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 420/34,35,40,67,70,104,105,108,112,69 148/325,335
• US Class Current: 420/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/002 containing In, Mg, or other elements not provided for in one single group C22C38/001 - C22C38/60
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/44 with molybdenum or tungsten
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/48 with niobium or tantalum

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards an austenitic, stainless steel series 300 alloy having improved biocompatible characteristics. The modified stainless steel alloy consists essentially of, in weight percent, about

C Mn Si P S Cr Mo ≦0.030 ≦2.00 ≦0.750 ≦0.023 ≦0.010 8.5-11.5 0.0-6.25 Ni Fe “X” 6.5-7.5 46.185-74.000 5.0-10.0

whereby variable “X” could be comprised from a group consisting of Gold, Osmium, Palladium, Platinum, Rhenium Tantalum, or Tungsten. The alloy provides a unique combination of strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and other mechanical properties which also has improved biocompatible characteristics.

Claims

1. A steel alloy, consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about

2. A steel alloy as recited in claim 1, wherein variable “

X”

is Gold.

3. A steel alloy as recited in claim 1, wherein variable “

X”

is Osmium.

4. A steel alloy as recited in claim 1, wherein variable “

X”

is Palladium.

5. A steel alloy as recited in claim 1, wherein variable “

X”

is Platinum.

6. A steel alloy as recited in claim 1, wherein variable “

X”

is Rhenium.

7. A steel alloy as recited in claim 1, wherein variable “

X”

is Tantalum.

8. A steel alloy as recited in claim 1, wherein variable “

X”

is Tungsten.

9. A steel alloy, consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about

10. A steel alloy, consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about

11. A steel alloy, consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about

12. A steel alloy, consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about

13. A steel alloy, consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about

14. A steel alloy, consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about

15. A steel alloy, consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about