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Abstract

A ceramic-coated metal implant is used in medicine as a hemiprosthesis or endoprosthesis. A metal implant base body having at least a surface comprised of a barrier layer metal is imparted with a surface roughness of 100-400 .mu.m by means of a mechanical and/or chemical and/or electrochemical pretreatment, thereby increasing the effective surface by more than 400%. Using anodic oxidation through spark discharge in aqueous electrolytes, an outer thickness of the roughened barrier layer metal is converted into a ceramic layer comprising oxides of the barrie layer metal and, optionally, a resorbable calcium phosphate. A maximum amount of calcium phosphate ceramic in the oxide layer faces an implantation bed of the implant. The calcium phosphate ceramic concentration decreases in the direction towards the phase boundary of the base body and oxide layer, so that bone can grow into the ceramic-coated metal implant and attain a high tenacity. In order to attain characteristics which are specific to bone, an after treatment in specific media, such as, for example, amino acids or antibiotics, can be performed. The implant can remain in place for a long period, is highly compatible with tissue and provides a large surface of bone contact, which automatically regulates bone growth in accordance with healing and growth processes.

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First Claim