US Patent 7972648 - Nanoparticle enhanced osseointegration

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7972648.html


This patent from Biomet 3I teaches how nanoparticles can be useful to improve the properties of dental implants. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of forming an implant to be implanted into living bone, the method comprising the acts of:

roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to produce a microscale roughened surface;

forming a nanoscale roughened surface on the microscale roughened surface; and

depositing discrete nanoparticles on the nanoscale roughened surface though a one-step process of exposing the nanoscale roughened surface to a solution including the nanoparticles, the nanoparticles comprising a material having a property that promotes osseointegration, wherein a portion of the roughened surface is exposed between at least some of the discrete nanoparticles such that the exposed roughened portion between the discrete nanoparticles is for contacting bone.