Percutaneous implant systems that are fabricated with fluorapatites which promotes biostability between the implant and the skin tissue.

Implantable devices often fail because the implant site becomes infected. Human or animal subjects reject foreign objects implanted therein, because the tissues of the subject around the implantation site reject the implant.
tissues around an implantation site may not integrate with the material(s) of the implantable
device. Some materials may be rejected by tissues more readily than others.

Novel percutaneous implant systems that are fabricated with or coated with fluorapatites for promoting a structurally stable interface between the implant and the skin tissue, and methods of improving the surface properties are disclosed. This invention involves two steps. 1) coating the titanium surface with fluorapatite and/or using fluoroapatite as a base material for fabricating the percutaneous components of the devices, and 2) an addition temperature treatment step for facilitating the epithelial tissue integration and differentiation on these surfaces. This hydrothermal treatment introduces nano features to the fluorapatite surfaces, reduces porosity, improves biostability and reduces the bacterial adhesion properties that either reduces the risk of percutaneous site infection in patients with these types of implant systems or improves the longevity of the implant systems.

Proof of Concept

• Improved biostability at soft-tissue interface
• Reduced incidence of infection, inflammation, and ultimately device failure caused by epithelial down-growth.

Huy Tran
(801) 581-7792
huy.tran@utah.edu