A medical implant system is described for inhibiting infection associated with a joint prosthesis implant. An inventive system includes an implant body made of a biocompatible material which has a metal component disposed on an external surface of the implant body. A current is allowed to flow to the metal component, stimulating release of metal ions toxic to microbes, such as bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. One detailed system is completely surgically implantable in the patient such that no part of the system is external to the patient while the system is in use. In addition, externally controlled devices are provided which allow for modulation of implanted components.

An artificial joint cup (2), in particular a hip joint cup, for implanting in a cavity in a bone. The joint cup (2) is, in particular, substantially in the form of a spherical dome cup, having a convex outer surface (3) and a concave inner surface (4). In addition, the joint cup (2) comprises an outer diameter (OD) and an inner diameter (ID). The ratio of the difference (D) between the outer diameter (OD) and the inner diameter (ID) in relation to the outer diameter (OD) is in a region between 0.5 and 0.07, preferably between 0.3 and 0.075, particularly preferably between 0.2 and 0.1. The joint cup (2) is manufactured from a ceramic material, and the convex outer surface (3) has a micro-structuring.

An orthopaedic knee implant includes a femoral component having a substrate and a coating disposed on the surface of the substrate. A method for making a femoral component of an orthopaedic knee implant is also disclosed.

The invention relates to bioactive surface coatings deposited on selected substrates. Surface nanostructured film coatings deposited on most metal or nonmetal substrates to provide surfaces can be engineered to promote enhanced tissue/cell adhesion. Attached cells, including osteoblasts, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, retain viability and will readily differentiate and proliferate under appropriate conditions. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells exhibit good attachment and growth on most coated substrates, except on nano surfaced structured silicone.

An artificial joint cup, in particular a hip joint cup, for implanting in a cavity in a bone. The joint cup is, in particular, substantially in the form of a spherical dome cup, having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. In addition, the joint cup comprises an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The ratio of the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter, in relation to the outer diameter, is in a range of between 0.5 and 0.07, preferably between 0.3 and 0.075, particularly preferably between 0.2 and 0.1. The joint cup is manufactured from a ceramic material, and the convex outer surface has a micro-structuring.

A medical implant system is described for inhibiting infection associated with a joint prosthesis implant. An inventive system includes an implant body made of a biocompatible material which has a metal component disposed on an external surface of the implant body. A current is allowed to flow to the metal component, stimulating release of metal ions toxic to microbes, such as bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. One detailed system is completely surgically implantable in the patient such that no part of the system is external to the patient while the system is in use. In addition, externally controlled devices are provided which allow for modulation of implanted components.

A vertebral body spacer of the present invention is used by being inserted between a vertebral body and a vertebral body (intervertebral space). The vertebral body spacer has a block body constituted of titanium or a titanium alloy as a main component thereof, and provided with a pair of contact surfaces to be made contact with the vertebral body and the vertebral body. The block body includes dense sheets having a dense part on at least a surface thereof and porous sheets having a porous part on at least a surface thereof. The porous part has a larger porosity than a porosity of the dense part. Each of the porous sheets is sandwiched between the pair of dense sheets. According to the present invention, it is possible to maintain an appropriate size between the vertebral bodies (intervertebral space).

The invention relates to bioactive surface coatings deposited on selected substrates. Surface nanostructured film coatings deposited on most metal or nonmetal substrates to provide surfaces can be engineered to promote enhanced tissue/cell adhesion. Attached cells, including osteoblasts, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, retain viability and will readily differentiate and proliferate under appropriate conditions. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells exhibit good attachment and growth on most coated substrates, except on nano surfaced structured silicone.

A vertebral body spacer of the present invention is used by being inserted between a vertebral body and a vertebral body (intervertebral space). The vertebral body spacer has a block body constituted of titanium or a titanium alloy as a main component thereof, and provided with a pair of contact surfaces to be made contact with the vertebral body and the vertebral body. The block body includes needle parts formed into a needle shape having both end portions and a porous part having through holes passing through the porous part in a thickness direction thereof, and a porosity of at least a surface of the porous part is larger than a porosity of each of the needle parts. The needle parts are inserted into the through holes so that the both end portions are projected from the contact surfaces.