METAL IMPLANT COATED WITH A METAL DEPOSITED BY POWDER PLASMA SPRAYING AND INCORPORATING A BIOCIDAL METAL THEREIN

摘要

An implant with a metal structure for use in a surgical procedure, in which at least part of the metal structure is coated with a biocompatible metal such as titanium by plasma spraying of the metal powder. Biocidal metal cations are then absorbed by ion exchange into the coating, so that after being implanted the biocidal ions gradually leach out into the surrounding body fluids and suppress infection. The ion exchange properties of the coating may be modified by pretreatment with dilute phosphoric acid.