Who: EMPA, Switzerland.
What: Researchers at Empa’s Laboratory for Nanoscale Materials Science” found that DLC (“diamond- like carbon”)-coated hip joints implant failure did not originate from the coating itself, but was caused by the corrosion behaviour of the bonding agent between the DLC layer and the metal body. The researchers have developed a bonding agent which does not corrode and which lasts a lifetime in the body. The bonding agent is made of tantalum. Further information
Where: Medical implants.
When: Time to market for medical devices varies greatly. However, a growing and aging population that leads a more active lifestyle worldwide has driven growth in the orthopedic implant market.
