Assembly - January 2009 - (Page 55) PRECISION INDEX CONVEYOR Porous titanium foam is a new material that features an open cell structure similar to human bone. of Czuba Enterprises Inc. (Lombard, IL), a medical device design firm. “That can cause inflammation and degradation of tissue, leading to patient discomfort.” According to Czuba, the biggest challenge facing orthopedic device engineers is coming up with appropriate wear surfaces. Surface treatment or coating is an important part of the manufacturing process. The surface is in contact with the body and determines how well natural bone integrates with the implant over time. “Engineers are searching for materials that are less stiff, so that joints can bend and flex naturally, and materials that are more porous, so that joints can adhere better to bone,” explains Czuba. “They’re becoming more creative in their selection and use of materials.” In the future, Czuba predicts the industry will use more bioresorpable materials, rather than traditional titanium, because they give design engineers more latitude and flexibility. Engineers at the National Research Council of Canada (Ottawa, ON) have combined plastic materials and titanium foam to create a new material that features an open cell structure that’s similar to that of human bones. The structure, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and mechanical properties of the porous titanium foam make it ideal for attaching implants to bone and tissue. “The current trends in orthopedic device manufacturing are the optimization of implant surfaces for improvement of wear and osteointegration,” adds Dr. Ong. Specifically, he says manufacturers are eager to find: A material that will mimic articulating joints, but at the same time minimize the generation of wear debris. A biocompatible material that has a closer match in mechanical properties to bone, since a mismatch can cause bone to become osteoporotic. A biocompatible material that will allow easy fabrication of devices, but at the same time also induce rapid boneimplant integration. “Fabrication of devices can be challenging,” notes Ong. “New technologies have to be developed whenever a new material is used. Additionally, manufacturers often have to PROVIDING A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO PRECISION INDEX APPLICATIONS. Model #6770-001A 6” Wide x 48” Long $12,120 NORTHSTAR INDUSTRIES INC. 25 Heritage Drive Tiffin, OH 44883 419-455-9258 www.tiffinnorthstar.com IS0 9001 certified www.assemblymag.com January 2009 / ASSE M B LY 55 http://www.tiffinnorthstar.com http://www.tiffinnorthstar.com http://www.assemblymag.com
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