A team of researchers looking into the future of bone implants have suggested that the future could lie with fibre composites which, they claim, can better adapt to the skeleton, thereby eliminating the need for re-operation.
The scientists, who are working as part of an EU-funded project called NEWBONE, will be presenting their findings at a conference hosted by the University College of Borås, Sweden, on 5-6 November.
One of the researchers on the project, Karri Airola, from University College of Borås, commented: "We're working with a variant of fibre composites (that is, reinforced plastics) that have properties that are compatible with the bones of the skeleton. This means that the mechanical properties of the implant will be the same as those of the bone and that the implant will function well together with the skeleton.”
Implant industry
Those who suffer from bone cancer, or those with sports or traffic injuries are likely candidates for bone implants, a market which has an annual turnover of (US) $1,000m every year. This figure is increasing by approximately 20 per cent annually.
The final research results are expected to be presented in 2011, with production of the new materials probably beginning after that.
NEWBONE is an EU project involving 16 organisations from nine EU countries (Finland, France, Belgium, the U.K., Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and Sweden). The total budget for the project is about €6.5 million, and the funding comes from the EU Sixth Framework Programme.
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Date Published: October 30, 2007
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