Engineering a better spinal implant
February 20, 2013
The top scanning electron microscope image (b) shows a cross section of the bioactive hydroxyapatite/YSZ coating without heat treatment. Note how the two layers are distinct. The bottom image (f) shows the coating after heat treatment. Note how the layers are now integrated. (Credit: Afsaneh Rabiei/NC State University)
Researchers from North Carolina State University have for the first time successfully coated polymer implants with a bioactive film.
The discovery should improve the success rate of such implants, which are often used in spinal surgeries.
The polymer used in polymer (plastic) implants, called PEEK, does not bond well with bone or other tissues in the body. This can result in the implant rubbing against surrounding tissues, which can lead to medical complications and the need for additional surgeries.
“We wanted to apply a bioactive coating that would allow the polymer implants to bond with surrounding tissues,” says Dr. Afsaneh Rabiei, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State and lead author of a paper on the research.
“The challenge was that these coatings need to be heated to 500 degrees Celsius, but the polymer melts at 300 C. We’ve finally solved the problem.”
How to bond implants with bone or other tissues
1. Coat the implant with a thin film of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), which acts as a heat shield, preventing the PEEK from melting.
2. Apply a coating of hydroxyapatite, which is a calcium phosphate that bonds well with bone, and heat this layer using microwaves. This gives the hydroxyapatite a crystalline structure that makes the hydroxyapatite dissolve more slowly — promoting bonding with surrounding bone.
“We have received funding from the National Institutes of Health to proceed with animal testing to fine-tune this technique,” Rabiei says. “Then we will move on to clinical testing.”
The research was also supported in part by the National Science Foundation.
Comments (3)
by Bennie Beaver
I don’t know about anyone else, but every time I read about stop-gap medical science like this, I can’t help but wonder whether it mostly promotes our for-profit health care system. True, basic research is important, but this procedure will be particularly available to the rich; whereas, I feel that ultimate solutions will be regeneration of health genetics, and prevention of aging in the first place.
I remember how many scientist believed that unraveling the genome would take hundreds of years, while Ray Kurzweil predicted that it would only take sixteen or so years. Ray Kurzweil was right! I wish to believe that concentrating research on regeneration and extending health and life with work very soon. We need to put enough money and faith into an ultimate and kind of final solution to save life, money, and the future of society. Otherwise, we’re going to go broke over health care….Create Manhattan projects for both energy and health care. Get the job do. Let’s roll!
by SmartAndSober
We have the pre-requisite for Grassroot Science/Technology now.
Actually, alot of people are working on such projects.
We can improve on the syste. For example: More ArXiv type of Online-Science/Technology Archive, more 3-D Printers (the Ultimate Omni-Fabricators), and recruit more people to work on AGI (like Ben Goertzel’s OpenCog).
AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) is, in my opinion, is the most important Technology of All. Only AGI is capable of thinking, Creating other Technologies and Improving upon Itself.
Once We Create AGI, we will Need to invent Very little (or no) additional technologies.
by SmartAndSober
“… We can improve on the syste.” Should be *system*.
I want to elaborate on AGI. I consider Yudkowsky’s effort of creating friendly AGI as good and respectable. Other AGI researchers should imitate this effort.
I mean, what if AGI is (Unexpectedly) created in a Black-Box-Type computer? It would be wonderful if Humanity can reach this earlier, but What if AGI is Flawed? Evil? Knowledge from Yudkowsky’s AI Box Experiment must be Applied in Such a Situation.