An orthopedic implant in the form of a femoral component of a knee endoprosthesis has sliding tribological surfaces formed by inserts of a ceramic material based on zirconium dioxide or aluminum oxide, which are inserted and transition flushly into a metallic base body. The inserts are connected to the base body by a silicate ceramic solder, which is solidified or hardened in a ceramic firing, and by a silicate glass solder. Discharge channels in the metallic base body help to produce a homogeneous glass solder layer and to avoid an excessively intense heat treatment of the solder connection, which could lead to fractures in the titanium oxide layer of the base body. Because a coating of a softer glass solder may be additionally provided on the sliding tribological surfaces of the inserts, the abrasive wear is further reduced and the service life is further increased.

The invention relates to a sternal reconstruction interface (100) comprising an elongate rectilinear body (101). The sternal reconstruction interface (100) comprises two protruding parts (102A, 102B) extending on either side along the elongate rectilinear body (101), each protruding part (102A, 102B) comprising a bevel, the protruding parts (102A, 102B) extending on one and the same plane along the entire length of the elongate rectilinear body (101), and fixing means (104) comprising at least two through-holes (104).

The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an improved lithium silicate glass ceramic and to that material for the manufacture of blocks for dental appliances using a CAD/CAM process and hot pressing system. The lithium silicate material has a chemical composition that is different from those reported in the prior art with 1 to 10% of germanium dioxide in final composition. The softening points are close to the crystallization final temperature of 800 C. indicating that the samples will support the temperature process without shape deformation.

A method for producing a ceramic osseoconductive bone substitute material, the bone substitute material, intervertebral disk implants containing the substitute bone material, and to methods of using the bone substitute material.

A chemically strengthened bioactive glass-ceramic composition as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the disclosed compositions.

The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an improved lithium silicate glass ceramic and to that material for the manufacture of blocks for dental appliances using a CAD/CAM process and hot pressing system. The lithium silicate material has a chemical composition that is different from those reported in the prior art with 1 to 10% of germanium dioxide in final composition. The softening points are close to the crystallization final temperature of 800 C. indicating that the samples will support the temperature process without shape deformation.

A biocompatible composite material for controlled release is disclosed, comprising a biocompatible metal oxide structure with a loaded network of pores. The pore network of the biocompatible composite material is filled with a uniformly distributed biologically active micellizing amphiphilic molecule, the size of these pores ranging from about 0.5 to about 100 nanometers. The material is characterized in that when exposed to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the controlled release of the active amphiphilic molecule is predominantly diffusion-driven over time.

An osteosynthesis body consisting of a zirconium dioxide ceramic in the form of a screw or a shaped body for osteosynthesis such as a panel or a strip in a planar or three-dimensionally curved form which is provided in at least some sections with holes through which screws can be passed. This is preferably produced from TZP powder by means of HIP and a subsequent post-processing step in order to achieve the highest possible mechanical resilience from the finest possible powders, with an average specific surface area of, for example, 30 to 50 m2/g.

For an orthopaedic implant, an insert body of a non-metallic material is arranged in a socket of an originally metallic material. The insert body consists of a ceramic based on zirconium dioxide, aluminum oxide or a mixed oxide ceramic, whereas the socket is preferably produced of pure titanium or a titanium alloy, for example Ti-6Al-4V, provided with a plurality of small holes and preferably embodied as a mesh or net structure. The titanium net structure is firstly imparted with ceramic properties with the aid of a silicate glass solder solidified or hardened in a ceramic firing, the subsequent connecting or joining between the ceramic insert body and the now also ceramic titanium socket is achieved by means of a glass solder which is based on silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) and which connects or joins the two components with one another.

An endoprosthetic component which is set up in the implanted state to penetrate in a controlled manner into adjoining bone material.