METHOD OF IMPROVING MECHANICAL HEART VALVE PROSTHESES AND OTHER MEDICAL INSERTS, AND PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE METHOD

摘要

A method of improving mechanical heart valve prostheses and other mechanical parts implanted in the human body, by reducing their tendency to contribute to the formation of thrombi and by improving their mechanical and biocompatible properties. The products, such as heart valve prostheses, are made of titanium or a titanium alloy which has been treated with pure nitrogen gas under vacuum at high temperature, so that a surface layer of titanium nitride is formed. The invention also relates to products, such as heart valve prostheses, made of titanium or titanium alloy having a surface layer of titanium nitride.