US5543019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of coating medical devices and device coated thereby
Assignee: Etex Corp
•
Filing: 1995-02-06
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Granted: 1996-08-06
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Expires: 2015-02-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention features a method of depositing a coating on a medical device. The method includes: a) placing the medical device in an evacuated chamber, b) introducing a noble gas into the chamber, c) providing at least one target in the chamber, spaced from the device, and d) sputter depositing a coating onto the device by applying power to the target so that the noble gas forms a plasma in the vicinity of the target and material is sputtered from the target by ion bombardment and deposited on the device. In another aspect, the invention features a medical device having a coating deposited by a plasma sputtering process. Preferably, the coating is a calcium containing compound.
Inventors
- 👤 Dosuk D. Lee
- 👤 William T. Conner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:15
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/06; C23C14/12; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/30767; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/28; A61L27/30; A61L27/32; C23C14/0021; C23C14/0036; C23C14/0057; C23C14/08; C23C14/14; C23C14/58; C23C14/5806; A61F2/3094; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00029; A61F2310/00179; A61F2310/00293; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00592; A61F2310/00796; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/92; Y10S623/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A plasma sputtering method of depositing a coating on a medical device comprising the steps of: a) placing the medical device in a chamber; b) introducing a noble gas into the chamber; c) providing a target comprising calcium and phosphorous in the chamber, spaced from the device; d) introducing a reactive gas into the chamber; and e) applying power to the target so that the noble gas forms a plasma in the vicinity of the target, causing ions in the plasma to eject material from the target, a portion of which material is deposited onto the device to create a coating comprising hydroxyapatite.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A plasma sputtering method of depositing a coating on a medical device comprising the steps of: a) placing the medical device in a chamber; b) introducing a noble gas into the chamber; c) providing a target comprising calcium and phosphorous in the chamber, spaced from the device; d) introducing a reactive gas into the chamber; and e) applying power to the target so that the noble gas forms a plasma in the vicinity of the target, causing ions in the plasma to eject material from the target, a portion of which material is deposited onto the device to create a coating comprising hydroxyapatite.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of targets are provided.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said targets do not have the same chemical composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said reactive gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, hydrogen water vapor and phosphine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said target further comprises a compound which contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of oxygen, hydrogen, fluorine, and titanium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device is rotated during sputtering.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heating the device during sputtering.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of cooling the device during sputtering.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the power applied to the target is RF power.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an RF bias is applied to the device prior to or during sputtering.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a magnetic field is created at the surface of each target.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of, after sputtering, heat treating the device to increase the crystallinity of the deposited coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the device is heated under vacuum or in a reducing atmosphere.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the device is treated hydrothermally, using a mixture of water and a calcium containing powder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coating comprises calcium, phosphorus, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coating comprises calcium, phosphorus, oxygen and fluorine atoms.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coating further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of amorphous calcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, fluorapatite, chloroapatite, carbonated apatites, calcium oxide, and calcium titanate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device is formed of a metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of titanium alloys, chrome cobalt alloys and stainless steel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device is formed of a ceramic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the ceramic is a calcium phosphate compound.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the ceramic is hydroxyapatite.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
A medical device having a coating deposited by the process of claim 1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the coating comprises calcium, phosphorus, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the coating comprises calcium, phosphorus, oxygen and fluorine atoms.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the coating comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxyapatite, amorphous calcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, fluorapatite, chloroapatite, carbonated apatites, calcium oxide, and calcium titanate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the device is formed of a metal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 27 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of titanium alloys, chrome cobalt alloys and stainless steel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the device is formed of a ceramic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the ceramic is a calcium phosphate compound.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 30 wherein the ceramic is hydroxyapatite.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said device comprises glass.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 23 wherein said device comprises glass.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-06 | 2000-02-05 | 2000-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-02-05 | 2004-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-06 | 2008-02-05 | 2008-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |