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The present invention relates to a new composition and medical implant made therefrom, the composition comprising a thick diffusion hardened zone, and preferably further comprising a ceramic layer. The present invention relates to orthopedic implants comprising the new composition, methods of making

The present invention relates to a new composition and medical implant made therefrom, the composition comprising a thick diffusion hardened zone, and preferably further comprising a ceramic layer. The present invention relates to orthopedic implants comprising the new composition, methods of making the new composition, and methods of making orthopedic implants comprising the new composition.

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What is claimed is: 1. A medical implant comprising: a substrate comprising a biocompatible metal or metal alloy; a diffusion hardened zone in contact with said substrate, said diffusion hardened zone comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy and a diffusion hardening species, said diffusion hardened

What is claimed is: 1. A medical implant comprising: a substrate comprising a biocompatible metal or metal alloy; a diffusion hardened zone in contact with said substrate, said diffusion hardened zone comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy and a diffusion hardening species, said diffusion hardened zone having a thickness of greater than 5 microns; and, a substantially defect-free ceramic layer in contact with and overlaying said diffusion hardened zone and comprising a surface of said medical implant, said ceramic layer ranging in thickness from 0.1 to 25 microns; and, wherein the total thickness of the ceramic layer and the diffusion hardened zone is greater than 5 microns. 2. The medical implant of claim 1, wherein said diffusion hardened zone has a thickness of greater than 10 microns. 3. The medical implant of claim 1, wherein said biocompatible metal or metal alloy is zirconium or zirconium alloy. 4. The medical implant of claim 3, wherein the ceramic layer comprises a secondary phase; and, the diffusion hardened zone has a layered structure comprising at least two distinct layers under metallographic analysis, the layered structure characterized by: a first layer directly below the ceramic layer, wherein the first layer is predominantly alpha phase zirconium; an interface between the first layer and the ceramic layer; and; a second layer directly below the first layer. 5. The medical implant of claim 4, wherein said diffusion hardening species is oxygen and the diffusion hardened zone has concentration of oxygen which decreases in the direction of the substrate, said decrease of oxygen concentration being defined by a function selected from the group consisting of an error function, an exponential function, a near uniform distribution function, and any sequential combination thereof. 6. The medical implant of claim 4, wherein said diffusion hardened zone has a hardness profile which is defined by a function selected from the group consisting of an error function, an exponential function, a near uniform distribution function, and any sequential combination thereof. 7. The medical implant of claim 4, wherein said substrate comprises an alloy of zirconium and niobium and has a niobium content of at least 1% (w/w). 8. The medical implant of claim 4, further comprising an oxygen-containing zirconium alloy overlaying said ceramic layer on the surface of said implant, said alloy being in the metallic state. 9. The medical implant of claim 3, wherein said substrate further comprises titanium, tantalum, hafnium, niobium, and any combination thereof; and, said diffusion hardening species is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, boron, carbon, and any combination thereof. 10. The medical implant of claim 3, further comprising: (a) a first implant portion comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy, said first implant portion having a bearing surface; (b) a second implant portion comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy, said second implant portion having bearing surface; wherein the bearing surface of said first implant portion and the bearing surface of said second implant portion each have a size and shape to engage or cooperate with one another. 11. A medical implant comprising: a substrate comprising a biocompatible metal or metal alloy; a diffusion hardened zone in contact with said substrate, said diffusion hardened zone comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy and a diffusion hardening species, said diffusion hardened zone having a thickness of greater than 5 microns; and, wherein the diffusion hardened zone has a layered structure comprising at least two distinct layers under metallographic analysis, said layered structure characterized by: a first layer on a surface of the implant; a second layer directly below said first layer, wherein said first layer is predominantly alpha phase zirconium; and, said layered structure having a concentration of diffusion hardening species which decreases in the direction of the substrate, said decrease of concentration of diffusion hardening species being defined by a function selected from the group consisting of an error function, an exponential function, a near uniform distribution function, and any sequential combination thereof. 12. The medical implant of claim 11, wherein said diffusion hardened zone has a thickness of greater than 10 microns. 13. The medical implant of claim 11, wherein said biocompatible metal or metal alloy is zirconium or zirconium alloy. 14. The medical implant of claim 13, wherein said diffusion hardening species comprises oxygen and the diffusion hardened zone has a concentration of oxygen which decreases in the direction of the substrate, said decrease of oxygen concentration being defined by a function selected from the group consisting of an error function, an exponential function, a near uniform distribution function, and any sequential combination thereof. 15. The medical implant of claim 13, wherein the diffusion hardened zone has a hardness profile which is defined by a function selected from the group consisting of an error function, an exponential function, a near uniform distribution function any sequential combination thereof. 16. The medical implant of claim 13, wherein said substrate comprises an alloy of zirconium and niobium having a niobium content of at least 1% (w/w). 17. The medical implant of claim 13, wherein said substrate further comprises titanium, tantalum, hafnium, niobium, and any combination thereof; and, said diffusion hardening species is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, boron, carbon, and any combination thereof. 18. The medical implant of claim 13, further comprising: (a) a first implant portion comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy, said first implant portion having a bearing surface; (b) a second implant portion comprising zirconium or zirconium alloy, said second implant portion having bearing surface; wherein the bearing surface of said first implant portion and the bearing surface of said second implant portion each have a size and shape to engage or cooperate with one another.