Diamond medical devices

Abstract

Masked and controlled ion implants, coupled with annealing or etching are used in CVD formed single crystal diamond to create structures for both optical applications, nanoelectromechanical device formation, and medical device formation. Ion implantation is employed to deliver one or more atomic species into and beneath the diamond growth surface in order to form an implanted layer with a peak concentration of atoms at a predetermined depth beneath the diamond growth surface. The composition is heated in a non-oxidizing environment under suitable conditions to cause separation of the diamond proximate the implanted layer. Further ion implants may be used in released structures to straighten or curve them as desired. Boron doping may also be utilized to create conductive diamond structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a medical device comprising at least a portion configured to come into contact with human tissue in use, the at least a portion of the medical device coated in monocrystalline synthetic diamond formed by chemical vapor deposition.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises an implantable medical device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a cardiovascular device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cardiovascular device comprises a valve or a stent. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises an orthopedic device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the device comprises at least a portion of a knee joint, an elbow joint, or a hip joint. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a medical delivery device. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the device comprises at least one of a catheter, a pump, a porous diamond membrane, and a capillary. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the device comprises a capillary operable through electrical actuation to act as at least one of a switch or pump. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a surgical instrument. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a scalpel or a drill bit. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a medical device, comprising:
 coated at least a portion of a medical device in monocrystalline synthetic diamond formed by chemical vapor deposition, the coated portion of the medical device comprising at least a portion configured to come into contact with human tissue in use.   
     
     
         13 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the device comprises an implantable medical device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the device comprises a cardiovascular device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the cardiovascular device comprises a valve or a stent. 
     
     
         16 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the device comprises an orthopedic device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 16 , wherein the device comprises at least a portion of a knee joint, an elbow joint, or a hip joint. 
     
     
         18 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the device comprises a medical delivery device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 18 , wherein the device comprises at least one of a catheter, a pump, a porous diamond membrane, and a capillary. 
     
     
         20 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a capillary operable through electrical actuation to act as at least one of a switch or pump. 
     
     
         21 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the device comprises a surgical instrument. 
     
     
         22 . The method of forming a medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the device comprises a scalpel or a drill bit.