Resorbable implant material made from magnesium or a magnesium alloy
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Publication Number
US-11969482-B2
Publication Date
2024-04-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a resorbable implant material made of magnesium or magnesium alloy and to a process for the production thereof. A disadvantage of the known resorbable implants is that their resorption has hitherto only been trackable using x-ray or CT examinations. The invention provides a resorbable implant material comprising homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds in a matrix of magnesium or a magnesium alloy. Fluorescent nanodiamonds are biologically nonhazardous and provide a stable emission in the near infrared range due to nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV centres). This allows detection of the implant material in the blood plasma of the patient.The resorbable implant material according to the invention is produced by a process wherein magnesium or a magnesium alloy is melted, nanodiamonds are added to the melt and the melt of magnesium or a magnesium alloy provided with nanodiamonds is subjected to an ultrasound treatment.
Core Innovation
An implant material comprises homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds having nitrogen-vacancy centers in a matrix of magnesium or a magnesium alloy. The fluorescent nanodiamonds have nitrogen-vacancy centers that, after excitation by a 532 nm laser beam, have a detectable fluorescence band centered at a wavelength between 650 nm and 700 nm. This fluorescence-based signal is associated with the material composition and NV-center fluorescence characteristics.
The document addresses resorption of an implant material in blood plasma and determining the degree of resorption without x-ray/CT, using fluorescence tracking based on the NV-center fluorescence band. By detecting a fluorescence signal in the patient’s blood with 532 nm excitation and a fluorescence band centered at 650–700 nm, the degree of resorption is determined. The fluorescence signal is linked to degradation and resorption behavior of the magnesium or magnesium-alloy implant.
The document also describes an implant production approach to obtain homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds in a magnesium or magnesium-alloy matrix. Magnesium or a magnesium alloy is melted and fluorescent nanodiamonds are added, with dispersing/deagglomerating using ultrasound under a protective gas, followed by solidification in a stirred permanent mold with bottom-to-top solidification.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims covering an implant material with specified NV-center fluorescence characteristics in a magnesium or magnesium-alloy matrix, a method for determining implant resorption in a patient by detecting fluorescence in blood, and a method for treating fractures or stenoses with the implant and determining degradation by fluorescence measurements of a blood sample. Across these claims, the main inventive features include homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds with NV centers, excitation by a 532 nm laser beam, and a detectable fluorescence band centered at 650–700 nm.
Homogeneously distributed NV fluorescent nanodiamonds in magnesium or magnesium-alloy implant material
An implant material comprising homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds having nitrogen-vacancy centers in a matrix of magnesium or a magnesium alloy, with a detectable fluorescence band centered at a wavelength between 650 nm and 700 nm after excitation by a 532 nm laser beam.
Detecting blood fluorescence to determine degree of resorption in a patient
A method for determining the degree of resorption of an implant material in a patient by detecting a fluorescence signal in the patient’s blood, using an implant material comprising homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds having nitrogen-vacancy centers in a matrix of magnesium or a magnesium alloy.
Treating fractures or stenoses with fluorescence-based degradation determination
A method of treating fractures or stenoses by implanting an implant material comprising homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds having nitrogen-vacancy centers in a matrix of magnesium or magnesium alloy, and determining degradation of the implant material by fluorescence measurements of a sample of the patient’s blood.
Overall, the claim set centers on magnesium or magnesium-alloy implants containing homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds with NV centers, with fluorescence produced after 532 nm laser excitation and detectable as a band centered between 650 and 700 nm. This fluorescence is used to determine degree of resorption in blood and to determine degradation during treatment of fractures or stenoses.
Stated Advantages
Enables tracking implant resorption in blood plasma without x-ray/CT.
Documented Applications
Determining the degree of resorption of a magnesium or magnesium-alloy implant material in a patient by detecting fluorescence in the patient’s blood.
Treating fractures or stenoses by implanting a magnesium or magnesium-alloy implant material containing homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds with NV centers, and determining degradation of the implant material by fluorescence measurements of a blood sample.
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