NANOCOMPOSITE SURFACE FOR VERY LOW WEAR ORTHOPEDICS

骨科假体产生的聚乙烯磨屑是一个主要的问题，因为它与溶骨性骨丢失有关，因此会缩短关节的寿命。在很大程度上，由于这种担忧，金属/金属假体正被重新考虑用于髋关节和膝关节置换的关节表面。这种结构的金属表面的磨损仍然令人担忧，特别是由于人工关节可获得的润滑量有问题。在金属/金属整形外科系统中，以最小磨损和最长寿命为目标，拟议的计划将开发独特的金属基纳米晶复合表面。这种材料将陶瓷的良好磨损特性与金属的固有延展性、可靠性和附着力结合在一起。金属基纳米晶复合表面将制造出比传统的金属对聚乙烯部件更耐用、更可靠的矫形假体，其有效寿命要长得多。拟议的商业应用：在价值18亿美元的美国整形外科行业中，每年进行50多万次完全和部分关节置换。由于聚乙烯磨损碎片和溶骨性骨丢失之间的联系，含有超高分子质量聚乙烯(UHMWPE)的植入物的替代品正在被重新考虑，特别是在欧洲。一种结合了陶瓷和金属部件的优点并导致磨损率比UHMWPE低20年的整形外科系统将受到制造商、外科医生和患者的欢迎。

Generation of polyethylene wear debris from orthopedic prostheses is of major concern since it has been associated with osteolytic bone loss and, consequently, a reduction in joint lifetime. In large part due to this concern, metal/metal prostheses are being reconsidered for the articulating surfaces of hip and knee replacements. Wear of the metallic surfaces in this configuration is still of concern, particularly due to the questionable amount of lubrication available to the artificial joint. With the goal of minimizing wear and maximizing lifetime in metal/metal orthopedic systems, the proposed program will develop a unique metal matrix nanocrystalline composite surface. Such a material integrates the favorable wear characteristics of a ceramic with the inherent ductility, reliability, and adhesion of a metal. Metal matrix nanocrystalline composite surfaces will permit fabrication of more durable, reliable orthopedic prostheses with much longer effective lifetimes than conventional metal-on-polyethylene components. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: More than 500,000 total and partial joint replacements are performed annually in the $1.8 billion U.S. orthopedic industry. Due to the link between polyethylene wear debris and osteolytic bone loss, alternatives to implants containing ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are being reconsidered, particularly in Europe. An orthopedic system that combines the benefits of ceramic and metal components and results in a wear rate that is two decades lower than with UHMWPE will be welcomed by manufacturers, surgeons, and patients.