PROSTHETIC DEVICES HAVING DIFFUSION-HARDENED SURFACES AND BIOCERAMIC COATINGS - Patent 1515757

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EP 1 515 757 A1

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(43)	Date of publication:
	23.03.2005 Bulletin 2005/12

(21)	Application number: 02742324.3

(22)	Date of filing: 27.06.2002

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: A61L 27/04, A61L 27/32, A61L 27/30

(86)	International application number:
	PCT/US2002/020436

(87)	International publication number:
	WO 2004/002543 (08.01.2004 Gazette 2004/02)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(71)	Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
	Memphis, Tennessee 38116 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	HUNTER, Gordon Germantown, TN 38139 (US) GUPTA, Harsh Menphis, TN 38116 (US) HEUER, Daniel Menphis, TN 38116 (US) LONG, Marc Memphis, TN 38104 (US) DAVIDSON, James, A. Germantown, TN 38138 (US)

(74)	Representative: Connors, Martin L.H.
	Group Patents & Trade Marks Dept.,Smith & Nephew Plc,Research Centre,York science Park Heslington, York YO10 5DF Heslington, York YO10 5DF (GB)

(54)	PROSTHETIC DEVICES HAVING DIFFUSION-HARDENED SURFACES AND BIOCERAMIC COATINGS