The Plasma Group offers a range of biomedical coatings for use with orthopaedic and dental implants. Two major groups consist of metallic
and Calcium Phosphate based materials which can be contructed to provide biomedical coatings for different substrate materials commonly
used today. Cobalt-Chrome, Titanium alloy and various polymer compositions receive biomedical coatings by specific deposition processes
developed to retain the key properties necessary for improved life expectancy for the Patient.
Rejection of the implant has been, and perhaps to a lesser extent, is still a major cost consideration for healthcare providers.
Before biomedical coatings were available this factor limited the use of major joint replacements to the elderly as revision surgery costs at least three times that of primary treatment. Biomedical coatings are constructed to provide benefits in a number of areas associated
with the aetiology of loosening. Titanium alloy implants have been shown to suffer “fretting” and, without the employment of biomedical coatings results in the production of a metallic/cellular “mash” at the bone-implant interface.
Biomedical coatings of commercially pure (CP) Titanium with a top coating of Calcium Phosphate , as either Hydroxylapatite (HA) or Tri-calcium Phosphate (TCP) have been shown to reduce this effect by extending the time before the host bone comes into contact with the metal implant surface.
Other biomedical coatings applied to Cobalt-Chrome and stainless steel implants have been demonstrated to reduce the effects of metal ion release, another factor believed to stimulate the patients immune system into rejecting the foreign-body implant. Preventing the host bone coming in contact with these materials is clearly desirable however the addition of biomedical coatings that include HA or TCP reap the benefit of conditions proved to promote bone conduction to fill gaps between the implant and the host bone which results in early weightbearing capability.
