1. A method of producing an article from a viscous material comprising a first constituent and a second constituent, the method comprising subjecting the viscous material to a centrifugal force to cause movement of the first constituent relative to the second constituent, and casting or molding the viscous material, whereby an article is formed exhibiting a gradient of at least one of density, porosity, or concentration, and wherein the casting or molding of the viscous material occurs either before, during, or after subjecting the viscous material to the centrifugal force.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first constiuent or the second constiuent is a hydrogel.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first constituent has a greater density than the second constituent, and wherein the centrifugal force is effective to cause movement of the first constituent away from an axis of rotation whereby the article exhibits an increasing density gradient in a direction away from the axis of rotation.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the viscous material is rotated in more than one axes of rotation to provide the increasing density gradient in the direction away from each of the more than one axes of rotation.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second constituent is a polymeric material and the first constituent is a particulate or fibrous material, and wherein subjecting the viscous material to the centrifugal force is effective to cause movement of the particulate or fibrous material away from an axis of rotation whereby the article exhibits an increasing concentration gradient of the particulate or fibrous material in a direction away from the axis of rotation.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the viscous material is rotated in more than one axes of rotation to provide the increasing concentration gradient in the direction away from each of the more than one axes of rotation.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the viscous material is porous such that the first constituent is a plurality of pores, and wherein subjecting the viscous material to the centrifugal force is effective to cause movement of the plurality of pores toward an axis of rotation whereby the article exhibits an increasing porosity gradient in a direction toward the axis of rotation.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the viscous material is rotated in more than one axes of rotation to provide the increasing porosity gradient in the direction toward each of the more than one axes of rotation.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the article is an articulating surface replacement plug having an oval tapered geometry, a bone-contacting end, and an articulating end, and wherein the gradient provides graded stiffness ranging from increased stiffness at the bone-contacting end to decreased stiffness at the articulating end.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising adding a porous metal or woven base to the bone-contacting end of the plug.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the article is a replacement spinal disc, and wherein the gradient provides graded stiffness ranging from increased stiffness at a periphery of the disc to decreased stiffness in a center of the disc.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the article is a replacement knee component having a bone-contacting end, and an articulating end, and wherein the gradient provides graded stiffness ranging from increased stiffness at the bone-contacting end to decreased stiffness at the articulating end.
13. A polymeric composite implant comprising a gradient of at least one of density, porosity, or concentration wherein the gradient results from a centrifugal force whereby the gradient is formed between a point distal to an axis of rotation and a point proximal to the axis of rotation.
14. A hydrogel implant comprising a gradient in stiffness, wherein the gradient is produced by subjecting a hydrogel precursor to a centrifugal force whereby the gradient is formed between a point distal to an axis of rotation and a point proximal to the axis of rotation.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a transparent thermal conductor layer;
a refractory phosphor layer provided on the transparent thermal conductor layer; and
a light emitting semiconductor arranged to emit light toward the transparent thermal conductor layer and the refractory phosphor layer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the refractory phosphor layer is fused to the transparent thermal conductor layer.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent thermal conductor layer is configured to dissipate heat from the refractory phosphor layer.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a Bragg mirror provided below the refractory phosphor layer.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a recessed housing comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity is hermetically sealed.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the refractory phosphor layer is crimped to the recessed housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a metal casing, wherein a portion of the metal casing crimps the refractory phosphor layer to the recessed housing.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the metal casing is configured to dissipate heat from the refractory phosphor layer.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the refractory phosphor layer comprises a plurality of phosphor sections.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the phosphor sections are an array of phosphor dots.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the phosphor sections are a plurality of separate phosphor patterns.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the phosphor sections is configured to produce light of a color different from that of at least another one of the phosphor sections.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the phosphor sections comprises phosphor particles of a type different from that of at least another one of the phosphor sections.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent layer is formed of a material selected from a group consisting of glass, sapphire, and diamond.
15. A light emitting device, comprising:
a refractory phosphor layer fused onto a transparent layer comprising a thermal conductivity greater than that of the refractory phosphor layer.
16. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device, comprising:
depositing at least one phosphor mixture onto a transparent substrate, wherein the phosphor mixture comprises a phosphor powder, a glass frit, and a binder.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein one of the phosphor mixtures is deposited in a first array of phosphor sections and another one of the phosphor mixtures is deposited in a second array of phosphor sections such that the phosphor sections of the first array do not overlap the phosphor sections of the second array.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the phosphor mixtures is configured to produce light of a color different from that of at least another one of the phosphor mixtures.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the phosphor mixtures comprises phosphor particles of a type different from that of at least another one of the phosphor mixtures.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising firing the at least one deposited phosphor mixture such that the phosphor mixture is fused to the transparent substrate.
21. A method for manufacturing a light emitting device, comprising:
fusing a refractory phosphor layer onto a transparent thermal conductor layer.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising crimping the refractory phosphor layer onto a recessed housing.