Advanced Orthopedic Coating

聚醚醚酮，俗称PEEK，是一种高性能工程热塑性塑料。然而，它已被证明在生物环境中是相对惰性的，因此在过去的十年中，人们对使用PEEK聚合物进行承重矫形应用很感兴趣。不幸的是，它的惰性化学性质导致它是疏水的，因此不能直接参与正常的细胞活动，以一个健康的骨科环境。另一个缺点是它在x射线上是透明的，外科医生不能像在医院里那样用传统的x射线检查假体的位置，这就影响了矫形手术的使用。在这个“Engage”应用程序中的支持组织，一直在试图弥补这两个缺陷，但只能报告部分成功。该应用试图通过附着一层涂层来达到预期的成功水平，该涂层将使假体能够在x光片上看到，并且它将具有足够的亲水性以支持生成新骨所需的细胞过程。

Poly-ether-ether-ketone, commonly known as PEEK, is a high performance engineering thermoplastic. However, it has been shown to be relatively inert in a biological context, and so over the past decade there has been interest in using the PEEK polymer for load-bearing orthopaedic applications. Unfortunately, its inert chemical property causes it to be hydrophobic and so cannot be directly involved in the cellular activity normal to a healthy orthopaedic environment. A further disadvantage is that it is x-ray transparent so orthopaedic use is compromised by the fact that the surgeon cannot easily check on the placement of a prosthesis by conventional x-rays as used in a hospital. The supporting organization in this 'Engage' application, has been attempting to remedy both of these deficiencies but has only been able to report partial success. This application seeks to achieve the desired level of success by attaching a coating which will enable the prosthesis to be seen in an x-radiograph and which will be sufficiently hydrophilic to support the cellular processes required in the generation of new bone.