TREATMENTS TO REDUCE THROMBOGENETICITY IN HEART VALVES MADE FROM TITANIUM AND ITS ALLOYS

摘要

The present invention provides a method for coating a titanium based component with diamond-like carbon to reduce the thrombogeneticity of the component. In a preferred embodiment, the titanium based component is a heart valve. According to the present invention, the component is placed in a vacuum chamber and heated to about 600 DEG -650 DEG C (1112-1202 DEG F). Thereafter, silicon is then deposited onto the component, and the component is simultaneously bombarded with a beam of energetic ions to form a metal-silicide bonding layer. The component then is cooled to at least about 100 DEG C (212 DEG F), preferably about 80 DEG C (176 DEG F), and a diamond-like carbon precursor is condensed onto the metal-silicide bonding layer. The precursor is simultaneously bombarded with a beam of energetic ions to form a coating of diamond-like carbon.