Developments in carbon prosthetics.
The majority of carbon-coated prosthetic devices in use today are coated with a unique form of carbon, low-temperature isotropic (LTI) carbon. The wide acceptance of this special form of carbon is a direct result of LTI carbon's demonstrated biocompatibility, its mechanical properties, and its inertness. The LTI carbon deposition process, however, places severe constraints on the size and type of substrate that can be coated. The substrates must be small so that they may be supported in a fluidized bed and further must be able to withstand temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees C. Recent technological advancements have removed the requirement that an object to be coated must be suspended in a fluidized bed and have also made possible the deposition of isotropic carbon at near room temperature. These developments expand the application of carbon-surfaced components into areas of prosthetics not previously possible. This paper describes some of the new applications and results.