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Co-Me congratulates! NCCR Co-Me researchers Brigitte von Rechenberg
of the Musculoskeletal Research Unit of the University of Zurich and
Stephen Ferguson of the MEM Research Center, Institute for Surgical
Technology & Biomechanics of the University of Bern received the 2005
KTI Medtech-Award of the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency KTI/CTI for
their participation in a project proving the applicability of
BoneWeldingŪ Technology in orthopaedic surgery.
The project BoneWeldingŪ is the result of a collaboration between
the two researchers and Woodwelding, a Swiss company that licenses new
technologies to the wood manufacturing industry.
BoneWeldingŪ Technology is a bonding technology, which offers new
alternatives in the treatment of fractures and other degenerative
disorders of the muskuloskeletal system.
The BoneWeldingŪ process employs ultrasonic energy to liquify a
polymeric interface between orthopaedic implants and the host
bone. Polymer penetrates the pores of the surrounding bone and,
following a rapid solidification, forms a strong and uniform bond
between implant and bone.
Biomechanical testing was conducted by Stephen Ferguson and his
team to determine the quasi-static pull-out strength and fatigue
performance of polymeric dowels bonded to bone surrogate material
using the BoneWeldingŪ process. Mechanical test results were compared
to those obtained with a comparably-sized, commercial metallic
fracture fixation screw. Tests in surrogate bone material of varying
density demonstrated substantially superior mechanical performance of
the bonded dowels in comparison to conventional bone screws.
The results of the in vivo study led by Brigitte von Rechenberg
have clearly demonstrated that the polymer welding concept can be
successfully applied in bone. The procedure itself caused no
discernable intraoperative stress and the surgeries were completed
without complications.
At the KTI Medtech-Event BoneWeldingŪ was the winner among 30
participating projects.
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