Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7387846 | Electrolytic deposition of coatings for prosthetic metals and alloys An article coated with an electrolytically deposited bio-compatible composite layer useful as an internal prosthetic device is disclosed. The bio-compatible composite coating that is electrolytically deposited onto the article comprises hydroxyapatite and chitosan. ... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7361138 | Bioabsorbable casing for surgical sling assembly The invention provides a surgical sling assembly for implanting in tissue to provide anatomical support in a patient. The surgical sling assembly includes a sling and a biocompatible casing enclosing at least a portion of the sling. The biocompatible casing is absor... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7309361 | Biologic modular tibial and femoral component augments for use with total knee arthroplasty The use of biologic and/or biologically reabsorbable materials to provide temporary stability after a surgical joint procedure is provided. Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide biologic and/or biologically reabsorbable cam and/or post linings mounted to re... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7281949 | Electrical hermetic penetrant structure of average voltage The invention concerns electrical hermetic penetrant structures, used for transfer of electrical energy through tight protections of nuclear stations, transport with nuclear reactors, tunnels of the underground, etc. Objective of the present invention is providing o... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7261741 | Prosthesis with resorbable collar A articulating hemiarthroplasty prosthesis (10) for use in arthroplasty is provided. The prosthesis includes a stem (12) for implantation at least partially within the medullary canal (14) of a long bone (16) and a collar (20). The... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7217290 | Surgical devices containing a heat bondable material with a therapeutic agent Surgical devices such as implants or suture fastenings are assembled from a plurality of discrete components, one of which components includes a heat bondable plastic material for bonding the components together. At least two components are bonded to each other by t... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7182784 | Prosthetic devices employing oxidized zirconium and other abrasion resistant surfaces contacting surfaces of cross-linked polyethylene Orthopedic implants which include the components of zirconium or zirconium-based alloys having surfaces coated with oxidized zirconium or alternatively, other orthopedic implants comprising abrasion resistant surfaces contacting surfaces of cross-linked polyethylene... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7105030 | Implant with composite coating Systems and methods are described for implants with composite coatings to promote tissue in-growth and/or on-growth. An implant includes: a substrate; a structured surface formed on at least a portion of the substrate; and a biocompatible coating deposited on at lea... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7074221 | Anterior cervical plate system Anatomically contoured anterior cervical plates with bone ingrowth surfaces, providing for intersegmental compressive preloading, and a rigid and locked interface to all of the bone screws, with those engaging the vertebrae deployed in highly convergent pairs. The b... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7052710 | Polymer re-inforced anatomically accurate bioactive protheses Customized implants for use in reconstructive bone surgeries where anatomical accuracy and bone adaptation are important, such as plastic and craniomaxillofacial reconstructions. This implant comprises a porous surface layer and a tough inner core of interpenetratin... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7048541 | Implant having attachment and hole-insert parts, and method for producing such an implant An implant (1) has attachment and hole-insert parts (2, 3) with an outer surface or outer surfaces having external layer arrangements (6, 7). The implant can be provided in a known manner with threads (3a, 3b) on cyli... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7004975 | Coated joint endoprosthesis Joint endoprostheses are provides which respectively have a joint part with a metallic core, wherein the metallic core is coated, in regions that roll and/or slide on another joint part during execution of the joint function, with a glass-ceramic composite mixture. ... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6974482 | Implantable orthopedic prosthesis with textured polymeric surfaces Implantable prostheses fully or partially formed of polymer having a textured or porous outer surface. The surface permits and encourages osteogenesis into the prosthesis and enables it to become firmly and permanently anchored into surrounding bone. The prostheses ... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6908466 | Surgical devices having a biodegradable material with a therapeutic agent Surgical devices such as implants or suture fastenings are assembled from a plurality of discrete components, one of which components includes a heat bondable plastic material for bonding the components together. At least two components are bonded to each other by t... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6875238 | Extended life prosthetic joints through thermal management A prosthetic joint has two load-bearing surfaces that are slidingly disposed relative to each other and define a region of frictional contact. The joint is thermally managed as heat is removed from the region of frictional contact during joint use by thermal conduct... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6800095 | Diamond-surfaced femoral head for use in a prosthetic joint Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for man... | 10/05/2004 |
| 6749639 | Coated prosthetic implant A prosthesis for implanting into a bone having a cavity is disclosed. The prosthesis comprises a body and a stem. A first coating including a bone ingrowth promoting material that promotes ingrowth of bone onto the stem and a bioabsorbable material that delays the i... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6695884 | Joint implant having porous coating for mitigation of wear debris dispersion when implanted Prosthetic joint replacement ensemble includes an artificial joint implant component having a non-bone-interfacing rough surface for ingrowth of fibrous tissue, preferably about a peripheral boundary. The component can be made of metal, and have the rough... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6589285 | Apparatus for, and method of, providing hip prosthesis implantation Surface irregularities are removed from the inner wall of a femur cavity, preferably tapered. A tamp having an opening and a socket is disposed in the cavity. The tamp may be one of a plurality of tamps each having a different length for the opening. A gu... | 07/08/2003 |
| 6517583 | Prosthetic hip joint having a polycrystalline diamond compact articulation surface and a counter bearing surface Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and meth... | 02/11/2003 |
| 6224634 | Hip-joint endoprosthesis A hip-joint endoprosthesis with a stem to be anchored in the femur, and with a joint head supported by the stem via a neck. In order, upon implantation, to be able to use one and the same prosthesis with a different choice of resection plane within the ne... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6187046 | Prosthetic bone material and process for the production of the same A prosthetic bone material comprising a bonded and sintered product of granules of calcium phosphate compound having a particle size of at least 100 μm, each of the granules being bonded with particulates of calcium phosphate compound having a particle s... | 02/13/2001 |
| 6069295 | Implant material The invention provides a nanotechnology process for implant surface treatment for producing an implant article. The nanotechnology process comprises subjecting a non-porous material to a mechanical or chemical surface treatment until a surface roughness w... | 05/30/2000 |
| 5935172 | Prosthesis with variable fit and strain distribution A joint prosthesis comprising a metallic body having a plurality of negative surface features such as through-slots, deep grooves, tunnels or pits, or valleys defined between projecting fingers or flutes. The metallic body constitutes the structural compo... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5871549 | Femoral stem with reduced coefficient of friction with respect to bone cement An orthopedic device is provided having a femoral stem with a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The intermediate portion tapers from a first cross-sectional geometry near the pro... | 02/16/1999 |
| 5702448 | Prosthesis with biologically inert wear resistant surface A prosthesis is provided having at least a smooth non-articulating load bearing surface disposed adjacent a bone. The prosthesis includes a substrate formed from a metallic alloy. At least the regions of the substrate defining the load bearing surface are... | 12/30/1997 |
| 5702483 | Debris isolating prosthetic hip joint A prosthetic hip assembly comprising an acetabular component having a bearing surface which forms a first articulating surface and a femoral component including a spherically shaped head defining a second articulating surface. The acetabular component inc... | 12/30/1997 |
| 5674293 | Coated orthopaedic implant components An improved coated orthopaedic implant component is disclosed. The implant may be coated with platinum for improved characteristics. Ion beam coating orthopaedic parts by ion implanting the parts with zirconium ions while the parts are immersed in an oxyg... | 10/07/1997 |
| 5658334 | Implantable articles with as-cast macrotextured surface regions and method of manufacturing same An implantable article having on at least a portion of its exterior surface an integral, as-cast macrotextured surface with macropores having undercut edge profiles. A complex macrotextured surface is provided by forming a casting mold so that the mold ha... | 08/19/1997 |
| 5593452 | Coated femoral stem prosthesis A femoral hip component for use in hip arthroplasty has a stem portion for contact with bone cement. The stem portion is formed from a biocompatible material having a surface finish of less than about four microinches. This surface is coated with a unifor... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5458653 | Prosthetic implants with bioabsorbable coatings A novel coated prosthesis that can be tailored to avoid the problem of bone resorption caused by stress shielding. The permanent, load-bearing skeletal replacement prosthesis is coated or covered with a bioabsorbable polymer at selected sites on its surfa... | 10/17/1995 |
| 5326376 | Femoral stem prosthesis A tapered, collarless femoral hip joint prosthesis formed of a surface hardened titanium alloy having a highly polished surface is provided.... | 07/05/1994 |
| 5176712 | Endoprostheses with resorption preventing means The endoprosthesis is adapted for insertion into a socket formed within the medullary canal of a patient's bone. It comprises an elongated stem defining a proximal region, a distal region, and a tip. A soft porous pad extends distally from the stem tip. T... | 01/05/1993 |
| 5032134 | Joint prosthesis and tool to be used therewith A joint prosthesis comprising two co-operating prosthesis members fastening each to a different joint bone. At least one of the prosthesis members is formed by at least two prosthesis elements one surrounding the other, the one prosthesis element adjacent... | 07/16/1991 |
| 4904266 | Bone joint implant and method A prosthetic device is shown for repair or replacement of joints of skeletal bones. The device includes an elongated stem having a linear axis which defines a distal end and a proximal portion. An articulating ball extends outwardly from the proximal port... | 02/27/1990 |
| 4801300 | Single part biocompatible hip-joint socket moorable without cement The invention relates to a single-part, biocompatible hip-joint socket moorable without cement, which hip-joint socket can be used universally in combination with hip-joint endoprostheses and is especially suitable for the treatment of dysphasia hips. The... | 01/31/1989 |
| 4619659 | Hip endoprosthesis A hip endoprosthesis for mounting in a distally tapering recess that opens at the proximal end of a femur has a nonmetallic sheath imbedded in the recess so as to be generally integral with the femur and having an inner surface with a distally tapering pr... | 10/28/1986 |
| 4495664 | Titanium or titanium alloy pin for cement-free fixing in a long bone to form a prosthesis A titanium or titanium alloy pin for cement-free fixing in a long bone for a joint prosthesis or for bone repair is surrounded by a lattice of titanium wire with a mesh size of at least 0.3 mm. The central part of the pin and the lattice are coated with a... | 01/29/1985 |
| 4351069 | Prosthetic devices having sintered thermoplastic coatings with a porosity gradient Coated Prosthetic devices useful in the medical and dental fields, such as dental implants, intramedullary nails, and total hip prostheses, are provided having a porosity or density gradient in the sintered plastic coating. The higher porosity is at the o... | 09/28/1982 |
