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Ceramic Metal Composite Femoral Head for total Hip Arthoplasty and Method of Fabrication

Detailed Technology Description

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*Abstract

Al2O3 bearings are an alternative to the standard cobalt-chrome (CoCr) metal-on-polyethylene (PE) hearings used in total hip joint replacement (total hip arthroplasty, THA). Ceramics, such as A1203, offer drastically reduced wear rates both in Al2O3 - Al2O3 and Al2O3 -PE couplings, when compared to the standard CoCr-PE coupling. The reduced wear leads to a reduction in implant loosening, and hence to a longer implant life, thereby reducing the incidences of revision surgery. A disadvantage is that Al2O3 and other ceramics are brittle, so failure of the ceramic implant can occur catastrophically in the body (in vivo). This invention consists of the production of a composite ceramic-metal femoral head for THA. In this construction, the ceramic provides the hard bearing surface for reduced wear, whereas the metal core provides a ductile material that reduces the stresses in the ceramic which cause brittle failure. The benefit of the invention is the reduced incidence for catastrophic in vivo failure of ceramic implant bearings used in THA, while retaining the excellent wear properties of ceramic bearing surfaces.

*Principal Investigator

Name: MOHAMED RAHAMAN, Professor

Department:

Name: B. Bal, Professor

Department:

Name: YADONG LI, Visiting Scholar

Department:

Country/Region

USA