Medical Alloys

A Quick Guide to Alloys and Their Medical Applications

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Do you know what are the most popular alloys in the medical market? What are their applications?  This medical alloys reference graphic gives a quick overview of alloys and their specialized uses in the medical industry.

Ask average people walking along the street what metal/alloy comes to mind when they think of medical uses - things like hip and shoulder joints, the orthodontia their kids might wear, the forceps used to remove stitches - they might come up with the answer "titanium." While this certainly is correct, there are lots of other metals and metal alloys that are used in the medical industry. They probably wouldn't answer "nitinol," a titanium alloy. Nitinol is actually used in the aforementioned braces! Nitinol can be found in other things too: stents, staples, septal defect devices, etc. Take a look at the graphic to see what all these alloys, in fact, can do; you might be surprised!

Such important implements, devices, and components that are used in and on the human body need to be durable and reliable. These medical pieces can improve the quality of life (to put it mildly) or actually save a life (to put it dramatically). Some of these alloys are actually used in and around the heart and blood vessel system! Only the best of the best will do to make up these medical items; lives are literally preserved and saved with them.

What alloys have you found in medical applications? Maybe you have experience with a loved one or yourself incorporating one of these medical pieces in your life? Are you a heat treater involved in the making of these products? Let Heat Treat Today know in the Reader Feedback.  

Download the full graphic by clicking the image below.

Source: Heat Treat Today

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Current Medical Alloy Trends

Thomas Wingens, Wingens International Industry Consultancy

Heat Treat Today’s Medical and Heat Treating December 2019 issue featured an article on medical alloys. Heat Treat Today talked with respected industry expert, Thomas Wingens of Wingens International Industry Consultancy, about current medical alloy trends. Here are some of his thoughts.

To read the full article to which Thomas Wingens’ comments pertain, go to Medical Alloys Their Uses and Heat Treatments

Heat Treat Today: Who is the new kid on the block in medical metals?

Thomas Wingens: Magnesium. While magnesium is a light metal used in the automotive industry, in the last five years it has become a player within the medical industry. Magnesium occurs naturally in our bodies and because our bodies can absorb it, magnesium is being engineered to last for two years and then it will deteriorate back into the body.

HTT: What are the top metals and alloys that are being used today in medical procedures and why are they beneficial to the patient?

TW: Titanium is one of the top metals because it is neutral due to the titanium oxide on the surface which makes it biocompatible.

One of the most used metals is cobalt chromium, which is highly regarded in joint and dental implants because of its outstanding osseointegration, strength, and wear resistance.

Nitinol is another top alloy. It is composed of nickel and titanium. Nickel by itself is not good for the body as it can cause headaches, however, when paired with titanium, it is a balanced alloy that is used in the spine and to produce stents for the heart. It is also a memory shape alloy that I use in STEM presentations to show students how nitinol can be twisted yet, when heated, will return to its original form.

HTT: What are your thoughts on the market forecast of medical heat treating?

TW: When taking into consideration the components of implants, tooling, and equipment, studies have shown a consistent market growth of 5-6% each year. The top joint replacements are hips with the knees, being a more complicated procedure, coming in second. Couple these with prothesis implants and x-ray tubes with copper coils, and business continues to climb.

HTT: What do you see as an exciting or disruptive heat treating technology or material in the medical field?

TW: DISRUPTION is taking place in personalized medicine. There are a bunch of very small devices for sensors and analytical devices for home use, as well for drug delivery.

 

A Quick Guide to Alloys and Their Applications

Titanium

Catheter Wire
(Image source: Medical Design Briefs)

  • Implants
  • Neurostimulators
  • Orthopedic Rods
  • Pins and Plates
  • Heart Valve Housings
  • Prosthetic Eyes
  • Surgical Instruments
  • Drills
  • Forceps
  • Retractors
  • Scissors
  • Needles

Cobalt Chromium

  • Bearing Surfaces Hip/Knee Replacements

Pacemaker Parts
(Image source: Medical Design Briefs)

Niobium

  • Pacemakers

Tantalum

  • Bone Implants,
  • Vascular Clips,
  • Flexible Stents

Nitinol

  • Stents
  • Heart Valve Tools
  • Staples
  • Bone Anchors
  • Septal Defect Devices
  • Diagnostic Guide Wires
  • Arch Wires for Braces

Copper

  • Antigerm Surfaces
  • Medical Electric Devices

 

(Image source: Medical Design Briefs)

 

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