US 12,070,391 B2
Method for improving the wear performance of ceramic-polyethylene or ceramic-ceramic articulation couples utilized in orthopedic joint prostheses
Bryan J. McEntire, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Ryan M. Bock, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Assigned to SINTX Technologies, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed by SINTX Technologies, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/839,092.
Application 17/839,092 is a continuation of application No. 16/380,426, filed on Apr. 10, 2019, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/655,457, filed on Apr. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0304811 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61F 2/34 (2006.01); A61L 27/10 (2006.01); A61F 2/36 (2006.01); A61L 31/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/30767 (2013.01) [A61F 2/3094 (2013.01); A61F 2/34 (2013.01); A61L 27/10 (2013.01); A61F 2/36 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00317 (2013.01); A61L 31/026 (2013.01); A61L 2400/10 (2013.01); A61L 2420/02 (2013.01); A61L 2430/24 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of preparing a silicon oxynitride material, wherein the silicon oxynitride material has improved wear performance, the method comprising:
forming a silicon nitride material block; and
oxidizing the silicon nitride material block,
wherein oxidizing the silicon nitride material block is performed using hydrothermal oxidation in a steam autoclave,
wherein the hydrothermal oxidation is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 100° C. to about 150° C.,
wherein the hydrothermal oxidation is conducted at a pressure of about 1 atmosphere to about 5 atmospheres, and
wherein the hydrothermal oxidation is conducted for a duration ranging from about 70 to about 150 hours.