| abstract |
A bone implant ( 71 ) comprises a body formed of an articulated open cell structure of a lightweight material, the surfaces of which structure are covered with a thin metal layer. A layer of biocompatible pyrocarbon coating is applied to the metal-coated structure so as to cover the entire structure and provide a dense, nonporous, biocompatible layer. Pyrocarbon is then selectively removed from portions ( 73 ) of the surface of the body to expose sections of the original surface which lead to regions of interconnected channels into which bone and tissue ingrowth are promoted while end regions ( 75 ) and ( 77 ) remain totally covered with such pyrocarbon. |