A medical device having improved surface hardness and wear resistance properties. The medical device has a body that includes a molybdenum and rhenium alloy. The outer surface of the body has a nitride surface layer that includes nitrogen, molybdenum and rhenium.

Disclosed is a medical device (9) comprising a porous structure (1), wherein a configuration of the porous structure (1) varies in dependence on a load applied to the porous structure (1), such that the porous structure (1) has a first configuration when the load is of a first magnitude, and has a second configuration when the load is of a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude. The porous structure (1) comprises a first surface portion (2) and a second surface portion (3). The first surface portion (2) is disengaged from the second surface portion (3) when the porous structure (1) has the first configuration, and is engaged with the second surface (3) portion when the porous structure (1) has the second configuration.

An orthopedic implant having a metal surface and a calcium phosphate layer disposed on at least part of the metal surface is described. The calcium phosphate layer has an average crystallite size of less than about 100 nm in at least one direction and dissolves for more than 2 hours in vitro. The calcium phosphate layer is substantially free of carbonate. The coating, which is formed on a sodium titanate surface, has increased shear strength and tensile strength. The coating is formed by a solution deposited hydroxyapatite process under inert conditions. The pH of the solution varies by less than 0.1 pH unit/hour during coating formation.

An orthopedic implant having a metal surface and a hydroxyapatite layer comprising gallium ions therein disposed on at least part of the metal surface is described. The hydroxyapatite layer has an average crystallite size of less than about 75 nm in at least one direction and dissolves for more than 2 hours in vitro. The hydroxyapatite layer is substantially free of carbonate. The coating, which is formed on a sodium titanate surface, has increased shear strength and tensile strength. The coating is formed by a solution deposited hydroxyapatite process under inert conditions. The pH of the solution varies by less than 0.1 pH unit/hour during coating formation.

The present invention includes a fluid interface system for use in medical implants. The fluid interface system of the present invention can include one or more fluid interface channels disposed within an implant. The fluid interface systems can optionally include fluid redirection channels, fluid interface ports and a corresponding instrument to transfer fluid in or out of the fluid interface ports.

An orthopedic implant having a metal surface and a calcium phosphate layer disposed on at least part of the metal surface is described. The calcium phosphate layer has an average crystallite size of less than about 100 nm in at least one direction and dissolves for more than 2 hours in vitro. The calcium phosphate layer is substantially free of carbonate. The coating, which is formed on a sodium titanate surface, has increased shear strength and tensile strength. The coating is formed by a solution deposited hydroxyapatite process under inert conditions. The pH of the solution varies by less than 0.1 pH unit/hour during coating formation.

A device, for example a medical implant, and a method of making the same, the device having a metal or metal alloy substrate, for example cobalt chrome, and a diffusion hardened metallic surface, for example a plasma carburized surface, contacting a non-diffusion hardened surface or a diffusion hardened surface having a diffusion hardening species different from that of the opposing surface.

The present invention relates to orthopedic implants, in particular to hip and knee prostheses, substantially involving metallic substrates with an antibacterial surface treatment consisting of silver immobilized in an organic linker and ligand via a multistep solution dipping and drying process. This treatment while being biocompatible is designed to inhibit bacterial growth and therefore combat periprosthetic infection which is one of the main causes of revision in hip and knee arthroplasty.

An orthopaedic implant can replace a joint in a patient. The orthopaedic implant includes a first component having a first component surface and a second component having a second component surface. The first component surface and the second component surface mate at an interface. The first component surface includes a metal substrate, a nanotextured surface, a ceramic coating, and a transition zone. The nanotextured surface is disposed directly upon the metal substrate and has surface features in a size of 10.sup.9 meters. The ceramic coating conforms to the nanotextured surface and includes a plurality of bio-active sites configured to attract and retain calcium and phosphorous cations. The transition zone is disposed between the metal substrate and the ceramic coating. The transition zone includes a concentration gradient transitioning from the metal substrate to the ceramic coating and there is no distinct interface between the metal substrate and the ceramic coating.

A composition and medical implant made therefrom, the composition including a thick diffusion hardened zone, and preferably further including a ceramic layer. Also provided are orthopedic implants made from the composition, methods of making the composition, and methods of making orthopedic implants from the composition.