Coatings & surface treatment
A new era I
mplanted medical devices, from tiny stents to bulky hip replacements, have become a mainstay of modern medical care. The use of implants does not, however, come without complications. The human body is not kind to invaders and does not necessarily recognise the difference between a life-saving medical device and a dangerous virus or bacteria. Improving biocompatibility is among the greatest challenges in the medical implant industry, and right now, advanced coatings appear to be the best option for success.
Coatings are bringing new hope to patients who, though using the most common medical devices, experience unwanted and potentially harmful complications. For instance, urinary catheterisation
Medical Device Developments /
www.nsmedicaldevices.com
Designing an implant for the human body is a complex balancing act between biocompatibility, mechanical function and medical outcome. Whether titanium or silicone, a device put to work in the human body must retain its integrity in a hostile environment and avoid any risk of toxicity. Coatings help maintain this balance, and Jim Banks speaks to Caitlin Howell, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Maine, and Ana Lidia Flores-Mireles, Hawk Family assistant professor of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, about some of the latest research in the fi eld.
is one of the most common health care-related procedures, but among the urinary tract infections (UTIs) acquired in the hospital, some 75% are associated with a catheter. Typically, treatment involves the use of antibiotics, but because infections are only observed once a catheter is removed, patients can suffer from pain and discomfort beforehand, as well as having an increased risk of sepsis and endocarditis. It is estimated that over 13,000 deaths each year are related to healthcare- associated UTIs. Couple this with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistant microbial strains, and it’s clear an alternative is greatly needed. “The problem is already big, but it is growing,” says Caitlin Howell, assistant professor of
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