From left, screws made of polylactic acid, hydroxylapatite, and medical stainless steel. (Credit: Fraunhofer IFAM)
By Noah Graff
Great news for people with broken legs, but perhaps terrible news for the guys manufacturing titanium and stainless steel bone screws on CNC Swiss.
According to an article this week on CNET.com, “This month, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research (IFAM) in Bremen, Germany, are unveiling a new type of screw that not only biodegrades within two years but actually encourages bone growth into the implant itself so as not to leave gaping holes where the screws used to be. (This has been one goal of fracture putty as well.)”
This could mean no more need to remove screws after bones have healed fractures nor having to leave inorganic foreign metal objects in our bodies. The precious medical manufacturing sector would be turned upside down.
IFAM researchers developed a moldable composite made of polylactic acid and hydroxylapatite, a ceramic that Philipp Imgrund of IFAM’s biomaterial technology department says is the main constituent of bone material.
Because the screws are made by injection molding, post processes such as milling won’t be necessary.
Could be a good time to get into the molding business.
Source: CNET News
I attended a medical conference about a year ago touting the advances in using cadaver bones to make similar bio friendly bones screws. These were still going to be machined parts; however I haven’t heard much of them since. I think the regulation on many of these medical developments takes years if not decades to implement. I also wonder if certain common surgeries (such as knee replacement) will continue to rely on non bio-degradable fixtures.
This will be held in FDA limbo for quite some time before it is approved for mass production.
I think the contracts “they” already have with the “real deal” will stop this product to enter the production line for a long time. Anyway, it’s good to see that somewhere in this world people care about people needs.