The Key Material Ingredients for Ortho Implants
May 21, 2024 | News & Insights
Poly-Med’s Chief Technology Officer, Scott Taylor, PhD, was interviewed for the ODT article ‘The Key Material Ingredients for Ortho Implants.’ In this Q&A session, Dr. Taylor discusses recent trends in the use of 3D printing for designing and manufacturing of absorbable & implantable medical devices.
Over the past several years, 3D printable materials including both metals and nonabsorbable plastics have driven significant innovation in orthopedics. 3D printing has unlocked lattice-based based porous designs, inaccessible to injection molding, that facilitate bone ingrowth into implantable orthopedic devices. These designs have been implemented in implants ranging from spinal fusion devices, to hip replacement joints, and craniofacial implants. More recently, PEEK and PEKK implants have been developed with similar characteristics.
To date, fully-absorbable materials with initial strength profiles similar to metal have not been realized. That could be changing, however, with advanced composite technology. For example, Ossio has released mineral fiber-reinforced products that approach the strength of bone. Bioretec has also launched fully absorbable fixation pins based on absorbable magnesium alloys. Recently, Bioretec received Breakthrough Device Designation for its fully absorbable RemeOs Spinal Interbody Cage.
