A dental implant unit includes a layer of synthetically created titanium dioxide. The dental implant unit has one end for connection and a lateral surface covering the implant unit except for the end for connection. The lateral surface includes a layer of synthetically created titanium dioxide while the end for connection is free from synthetically created titanium dioxide. Also, a method produces a whitened implantable dental unit. The method includes thermal oxidation of a dental implant unit that includes titanium.

A method of coating a medical implant with hydroxyapatite comprises steps of: (a) plasma treating said medical implant by a plasma electrolytic oxidation bath within an electrolyte; (b) hydroxyapatite coating a plasma treated medical implant in a hydrothermal pressurized reactor; (c) washing a hydroxyapatite coated medical implant; and (d) drying a washed medical implant. At least one of steps a and b further comprises a sub-step of forming crystallization seeds on a surface of said medical implant.

A method of modifying a surface of a medical device for implantation or disposition inside a patient is described. The medical device comprises a structure having at least one surface. The method includes the steps of: placing the medical device into a plasma chamber substantially free from contaminants and substantially sealing the plasma chamber from the atmosphere; removing at least an outermost layer of any oxide layer from the at least one surface of the structure by a plasma oxide-removal process, whilst maintaining the plasma chamber under seal from the atmosphere; and subsequently forming a new oxide layer at the least one surface of the structure by introducing at least one gas into the plasma chamber, whilst maintaining the plasma chamber under seal from the atmosphere. A medical device including a bulk material and an oxide layer disposed over at least one surface of the medical device. The oxide layer is substantially pure and free from contaminants.

A method of modifying a surface of a medical device for implantation or disposition inside a patient is described. The medical device comprises a structure having at least one surface. The method includes the steps of: placing the medical device into a plasma chamber substantially free from contaminants and substantially sealing the plasma chamber from the atmosphere; removing at least an outermost layer of any oxide layer from the at least one surface of the structure by a plasma oxide-removal process, whilst maintaining the plasma chamber under seal from the atmosphere; and subsequently forming a new oxide layer at the least one surface of the structure by introducing at least one gas into the plasma chamber, whilst maintaining the plasma chamber under seal from the atmosphere. A medical device including a bulk material and an oxide layer disposed over at least one surface of the medical device. The oxide layer is substantially pure and free from contaminants.

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.

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.

Methods are provided for modifying a porous surface of an implantable medical device by subjecting the porous surface to a modified micro-arc oxidation process to improve the ability of the medical device to resist microbial growth, to improve the ability of the medical device to adsorb a bioactive agent or a therapeutic agent, and to improve tissue in-growth and tissue on-growth of the implantable medical device.

Methods are provided for modifying a porous surface of an implantable medical device by subjecting the porous surface to a modified micro-arc oxidation process to improve the ability of the medical device to resist microbial growth, to improve the ability of the medical device to adsorb a bioactive agent or a therapeutic agent, and to improve tissue in-growth and tissue on-growth of the implantable medical device.

Aspects of the invention relate to a metal material and product made from the metal material having biological properties, such as antibiotic properties.

A matrix for neuron regeneration. The matrix can include a sheet having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface having a plurality of integrally formed ridges. The sheet can have a spiral shape, such that the first surface of the sheet faces the second surface of the sheet. The sheet and the integrally formed ridges can comprise oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate).