Originally Published MX January/February 2005

COVER STORY

In the world of orthopedic joint replacement research, the big buzz is all about advanced bearing materials. Over the past decade, major players in the orthopedic sector have invested heavily in R&D to develop materials that can withstand the significant stresses exerted on a hip or knee under a normal range of motion. In a joint replacement implant, the bearing material must be tough, with high fatigue strength and the ability to withstand considerable sliding and rotating.

For Smith & Nephew Orthopedics (Memphis), the need for such advanced bearing materials is being amply filled by a form of oxidized zirconium that the company has trademarked as Oxinium. The company's unique manufacturing process enables zirconium to absorb oxygen, turning the surface of the alloy from a metal to a ceramic. The resulting material incorporates the best features of ceramic and cobalt chrome, and is 4900 times more resistant to scratches than cobalt chrome.

Angie Craig