Orthopaedic trauma internal fixation systems
The goal of orthopaedic trauma treatment is to restore a fractured bone to its correct position and orientation. When this is done by means of surgical intervention, fixation systems are used to secure the bone in the anatomically correct position.
Manufacturers of such internal fixation systems need to meet many and exacting requirements in terms of function, weight and appearance, at the same time as keeping an eye on the overall costs in view of increasingly tight budgets.
Internal fixation systems, also referred to
casually as "targeting arms" / "guiding arms", are subject to demanding requirements.
This starts with the forces acting on the system, and thus also on the material,
resulting from the operation technique. Accordingly, it needs to withstand
rough handling as well as falls without undergoing plastic deformation. Moreover,
X-ray transparency as well as physiological harmlessness (biocompatibility) are
of fundamental importance. The guaranteed hit rate, even after many
sterilisation cycles, in parallel with chemical cleaning, makes the targeting arm ultimately a high-end product. Metals as well as epoxy resins have many
disadvantages and have great difficulty coping with all these requirements.
Composites hold the key to the future
We
offer outstandingly suitable composite materials for manufacturers of trauma internal fixation systems looking for innovative solutions, in the form
of the TECATEC MT portfolio (PEEK CW50 and PEKK CW60).
To ensure the positional accuracy of the screws for fixing the plate or the nail to the bone, the so called targeting or guiding arm is not allowed to undergo any plastic deformation.
Consequently, TECATEC PEEK MT CW50 black or TECATEC PEKK MT CW60 black are
characterised by their very high mechanical values, in particular
regarding dimensional and torsional stability. Moreover, the materials
have good haptic properties, and possess only slight internal stresses,
if processed correctly.
In
addition to this, TECATEC PEEK MT CW50 black or TECATEC PEKK MT CW60 black are
X-ray transparent, which means that even when the implant delivery
device is placed in position it is possible to take an X-ray of the
operation area without any restrictions. Furthermore, these materials have
been tested for biocompatibility according to ISO 10993 for up to 24 hours contact time (as is the case with all our Medical-Grade (MT) semi-finished products). Even if contact with the patient is of short duration (including inadvertent contact), any negative physiological effect from the composite material is absolutely ruled out.
The
high glass transition temperature and low water absorbency of these
materials, as well as their very good chemical resistance, results in
excellent ability to withstand sterilisation. Consequently, absolute
proper anatomical position accuracy continues to be ensured even after many
sterilisation cycles, and even when hot steam sterilisation is used.
Benefits