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Treatments to reduce frictional wear between components made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and metal alloys    
United States Patent5593719   
Link to this pagehttp://www.wikipatents.com/5593719.html
Inventor(s)Dearnaley; Geoffrey (San Antonio, TX); Lankford, Jr.; James (San Antonio, TX)
AbstractThe present invention provides methods for modifying surfaces made from metal alloy and/or UHMWPE, preferably surfaces which are frictionally engaged, e.g., in an orthopaedic implant. The methods of the present invention reduce the coefficient of friction of the metal alloy component, reduce the shearing of fibrils from the UHMWPE component, and reduce sub-surface fatigue in the UHMWPE component. The method involves solvent immersion of the UHMWPE component to remove short chains of polyethylene at or near the surface of the component, and to swell and toughen the subsurface of the component. The method also involves firmly coating the surface of the metal alloy component with an adherent layer of diamond-like carbon ("DLC") by creating a metal-silicide interface at the surface of the metal alloy to permit firmer adhesion of DLC. Although the methods of the present invention are particularly useful in orthopaedic applications, the methods also can be used to treat similar components used in other applications.
   














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Drawing from US Patent 5593719
Treatments to reduce frictional wear between components made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and metal alloys - US Patent 5593719 Drawing
Treatments to reduce frictional wear between components made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and metal alloys
Inventor     Dearnaley; Geoffrey (San Antonio, TX); Lankford, Jr.; James (San Antonio, TX)
Owner/Assignee     Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio, TX)
Patent assignment
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Publication Date     January 14, 1997
Application Number     08/220,234
PAIR File History     Application Data   Transaction History
Image File Wrapper   Patent Term   Fees
Litigation
Filing Date     March 29, 1994
US Classification     427/2.26 216/83 427/296 427/307 427/525 427/527 427/528 427/530 623/920 623/923
Int'l Classification     B05D 003/00 A61F 002/30 C23C 014/12 B29C 037/00
Examiner     Padgett; Marianne
Assistant Examiner    
Attorney/Law Firm     Niadan & Morris
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Priority Data    
USPTO Field of Search     427/2 427/527 427/525 427/530 427/528 427/296 427/307 427/308 427/316 427/222 427/2.24 427/2.26 427/534 156/668 623/18 623/19 623/20 623/21 623/22 623/23 216/83 216/7
Patent Tags     treatments reduce frictional wear between components made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene metal alloys
   
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We claim:

1. A process for treating an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene component to reduce frictional shearing off of fibrils from said component comprising:

immersing said ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene component in an organic solvent for a first amount of time and at a temperature sufficient to dissolve polyethylene fibrils that are susceptible to frictional shearing off during use but insufficient to result in damage due to swelling of said ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene component, said organic solvent being selected from the group consisting of an aromatic hydrocarbon, an alicyclic hydrocarbon, an aliphatic hydrocarbon, and a mixture thereof; and

exposing said component to a vacuum of 10.sup.-1 -10.sup.-5 torr for a second amount of time sufficient to remove residual solvent.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said first amount of time comprises at least 30 seconds.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said second amount of time comprises at least 8 hours.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said temperature is between about 30.degree.-100.degree. C.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said temperature is between about 30.degree.-50.degree. C.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said temperature is between about 30.degree.-100.degree. C.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said temperature is between about 30.degree.-50.degree. C.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein said temperature is between about 30.degree.-100.degree. C.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein said temperature is between about 30.degree.-50.degree. C.

10. A method for making an orthopaedic implant comprising a metal alloy substrate in frictional contact with an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene