Orthopaedic implants is a wide term which covers a number of artificial devices which are used to replace joints in the body, e.g. hip, knee, finger and shoulder. Historically the domain of the elderly, orthopaedic implants are now increasingly used across the populace to replace arthritic and/or damaged joints. The combination of the increasing longevity of individuals and the wider use of implants on younger patients, has placed greater demands on manufacturers to produce longer lasting implants.
For hip implants, the form characteristics of the femoral cup and head are critical to its load bearing capability. Typically however the main cause of failure in hip joints is due to wear and in particular the particles that are generated. For example the most common cause of femoral bone loss is due to osteolysis. Although the total cause is not known, it has been attributed to a variety of factors including foreign body reaction to particulate debris, in particular to polymeric debris. As such the avoidance of wear in hip joints is critical. This requirement typically leads to a high tolerance on surface finish. Hip joint manufacture is controlled by international standards, which include ISO 7206 (parts I VIII).
The requirements for knee implants (and other orthopaedic implants) are similar to hips in that they require good form and surface finish characteristics to ensure they achieve the desired performance standards. Taylor Hobson offer orthopaedic implant manufacturers a range of measurement solutions which assist in improving quality and performance. For product information click the link below.