Orthopedic

Upgrade to Titanium Bones

The Fraunhofer Institutes in Germany, have come up with a new product called TiFoam. Short for "titanium foam" it's made from polyurethane foam which is infused with titanium powder and binding agents. When the polyurethane foam is dissolved, a titanium matrix remains, which is then hardened by heat. The resulting titanium matrix can then replace a damaged bone. Remaining bone cells can then be encouraged to grow in and around it.

The titanofoam is bendy like a bone and it is also easier for living bone to bond to. "The mechanical properties of titanium foams made this way closely approach those of the human bone", reports Doktor-Ingenieur Peter Quadbeck of IFAM. "This applies foremost to the balance between extreme durability and minimal rigidity."

The titanium foam is not yet available, however Fraunhoferites' commercial partner has said it will develop TiFoam bone implants "soon".

Source : http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2010/09/titanium-foams-replace-injured-bones.jsp