Extending the life span of orthopaedic implants: development of ceramic hip and knee prostheses with improved zirconia toughned alumina nanocomposites

Objective

Lifetime of artificial hips and knees is a serious limitation to their use, especially in relativity young and active people. The introduction of ceramics like alumina and zirconia drastically reduce the wear rate, but fracture rates of up to 1.6 % have been reported for alumina-alumina pairs due to its brittleness Additionally, problems related with the steam sterilization and hydrothermal degradation make that a zirconia-zirconia combination must be avoided. The aim of this project is to increase the life span of ceramic-ceramic knee and hip orthopedic implants to 30 years by using a zirconium toughened alumina ceramic nanocomposite with a clearly improved suitability. This material is obtained by means of a new and innovative processing technology using power / alcoxide mixtures and a pressure Casting forming technique (patent pending).

Programme(s)

• FP5-GROWTH - Programme for research technological development and demonstration on "Competitive and sustainable growth 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.3.-5. - RTD Activities of a Generic Nature : materials and their technologies for production and transformation and new and improved materials and production technologies in the steel field

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS

Address

S/n,la Corredoria S/n
33011 Oviedo
Spain

Participants (5)

CERAMICA INDUSTRIAL MONTGATINA S.A.

Spain

Address

Carretera A Tiana 191
08390 Montgat

CHEVAL FRÈRES S.A.

France

Address

Rue Des Bosquets Ecole Valentin
25045 Besancon

INSAVALOR S.A.

France

Address

20,Avenue Albert Einstein 20 Insa Lyon Bètiment 502
69621 Villeurbanne

ISTITUTO ORTOPEDICO RIZZOLI

Italy

Address

Via Di Barbiano 1-10
40136 Bologna

ORTHO CREMASCOLI SPA

Italy

Address

Via Clemente Prudenzio 14/16
20138 Milano