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Facilities for the Development of Metallic and Ceramic Medical Devices
On June 7th 2005, the president of the National Research Council Canada
will inaugurate the new facilities for the development of metallic and
ceramic medical devices using the powder metallurgy technologies at the
NRC Industrial Materials Institute. These laboratories will be dedicated
to the forming of biocompatible parts using powders. Advanced technologies
are used:
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Prototype of dental implant
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The principal applications targeted are
dental and orthopaedic implants (i.e. hips, knees, lumbar fusion,
osseous reconstruction, etc.) and dental as well as the production
of components for medical devices for surgeries and diagnostics
(instruments for laparoscopy, endoscopy, etc). Titanium and its
alloys (CpTi, Ti6Al4V, TiNi), stainless steels and other
biocompatible alloys such as Co-Cr-Mo and ceramics (Al2O3, TiO2,
TiN, HAp...) are among the targeted materials.
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Prototype of system of
anchoring for implant
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The equipment and expertise available at IMI
allow:
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Preparation of powder blends in
controlled environment
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Forming of porous parts by foaming and
moulding
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Forming metallic and ceramic complex
parts using powder injection moulding
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Micromoulding of miniature components
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Debinding of organic materials
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Sintering or consolidation in a high
temperature vacuum sintering furnace (temperature up to
1500°C)
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Machining and milling for prototype
fabrication and biocompatibility testing
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Vacuum sintering furnace
Micromoulding press
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The laboratory will support primarily two major research topics
involving multidisciplinary groups of research at NRC as well as multiple institutional and industrial partners:
- Production of metallic foams and porous parts
Forming of medical devices by powder injection and microinjection
moulding
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The developments of metal foams and porous
parts relate to the development of new porous materials for the
production of orthopaedic and dental implants. These materials:
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Have similar structures and properties
than cancellous bones
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Support the integration of implants by
allowing bone ingrowth and connective tissues attachment
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Allow the integration of drug and growth
factors directly into their structures
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NRC Ti foam
Cancellous bone and
Initial phase of extracellular matrix produce inside the CNRC Ti
foam.
(Courtesy of J.P. St-Pierre/McGill Univ.)
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The development of parts by powder injection and microinjection relates
to the development of powders/binders (feedstocks) formulations and the
optimization of the forming process.
The objectives are:
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Form complex implants and micro-implants
and components for medical devices with complex shapes
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Form ceramic microparts with
micro-textured surfaces
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Reduce cost for mass production of
metallic and ceramic complex parts
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Orthodontic parts
Surface micropattern
on alumina
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For further information, please feel free to contact:
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