ABSTRACT METAL IMPLANTS An implant with a metal structure for use in a surgical procedure, in which at least part of the metal structure is coated with a biocompatible metal such as titanium by plasma spraying of the metal powder. Biocidal metal cations are then absorbed by ion exchange into the coating, so that after being implanted the biocidal ions gradually leac h out into the surrounding body fluids and suppress infection. The ion exchange properties of the coating may be modified by pretreatment with dilute phosphoric acid.
