MeshWorks - an innovative bimodal trabecular mesh and new titanium alloy for spinal implants

骨科退行性变是衰老的一个正常部分，预计会影响到世界上80%的人口。英国国家统计局估计，到2027年，英国65岁以上人口的比例将上升到20.7%，因此对经济和社会的影响只会增加。在过去的十年里，英国大约有200万人植入了金属装置来替代他们体内的骨骼或关节，手术数量以每年7%的速度增长。最常见的手术干预是髋关节或膝盖置换，然后是脊柱融合植入物，然后是其他关节的植入物。英国每年大约进行25万例手术。然而，大约50%的患者会有不理想的结果，40%的患者在手术后长达4年的时间里仍然无法重返工作岗位。高达20%的植入物需要修改，其中75%是由于植入物失败。OxMet设计了一种用于医疗植入物的新合金，消除了目前存在的问题，如：*高硬度：僵硬的植入物‘应力屏蔽骨’，导致骨细胞减弱和死亡，松动植入物。*细胞毒性：Ti64是最常见的植入物材料之一，含有细胞毒性钒和铝。*与添加剂制造兼容：目前的植入物材料不能用于添加剂制造，导致缺陷和断裂。OxMet和Betatype设计了一种新的网状物，更接近松质骨的结构。更紧密的匹配改善了种植体的骨整合，在速度和强度方面都是如此，从而降低了失败率。该设计利用了Betatypes定制的专有算法，既加快了速度，又改善了控制。OxMet和Betatype将与伯明翰大学合作，为组合合金和网格的有效性提供概念验证证据。

Orthopaedic degeneration is a normal part of aging, anticipated to affect ~80% of the world's population. The Office for National Statisticsestimates the UK's proportion of over 65s will rise to 20.7% by 2027, so the financial and societal impacts can only increase.In the past decade approximately two million people in the UK had a metallic device implanted to replace a bone or joint in their body, with surgeries increasing at 7%/year. The most common surgical intervention is hip or knee replacement followed by spinal fusion implants, then implants to other joints. Around 250,000 procedures are conducted in the UK each year. However, around 50% will have non-ideal results, with 40% of patients still unable to return to work up to 4 years after surgery. Up to 20% will require a revision, with 75% of these due to the implant failing.OxMet has designed a new alloy for use in medical implants that eliminates current problems such as:* High stiffness: stiff implants which 'stress shield' surrounding bone, causing bone cells to weaken and die, loosening the implant.* Cytotoxicity: Ti64, one of the most common implant materials, contains cytotoxic vanadium and aluminium.* Compatibility with Additive Manufacture: Current implant materials are not designed for use with additive manufacturing, resulting in defects and fracturing.OxMet and Betatype have designed a new mesh that more closely matches the structure of cancellous bone. Closer matching improves implant osseointegration, both in terms of speed and strength, reducing failure rates. The design takes advantage of Betatypes' bespoke proprietary algorithms that are both quicker and improve control.OxMet and Betatype will work with the University of Birmingham to provide proof-of-concept evidence for the improved effectiveness of the combined alloy and mesh.