Invibio Biomaterial Solutions Launches Hydroxyapatite Enhanced PEEK-OPTIMA Polymer
UK-headquartered Invibio Biomaterial Solutions, a leading solutions provider of PEEK-based biomaterials, manufacturing and application knowledge to medical device manufacturers worldwide, has today announced its launch of “PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced Polymer”. The implantable biomaterial grade uniquely combines two clinically proven advanced biomaterials for enhanced bone apposition1: PEEK-OPTIMA, the principal PEEK-based biomaterial with over ten years of proven history in clinical use, and Hydroxyapatite (HA), a well-known osteoconductive material.
Hydroxyapatite (HA) is fully integrated into the PEEK-OPTIMA Natural grade to provide a complete homogeneous compound which ensures that HA will be present at all surfaces of a device. John Devine, Emerging Business Director explained, “Although PEEK is the most popular chosen material for interbody fusion applications, surgeon feedback has indicated that a version of PEEK that enhances bone on-growth on all sides of the device could be more effective. Invibio has invested in this new grade that offers the same advantages of PEEK-OPTIMA and additionally a superior solution for bone apposition. With HA available across the whole device the opportunity for bone on-growth is virtually unmatched with alternative bone apposition technologies”, Devine concludes, “We believe the launch of PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced provides surgeons with improved technologies and enables device companies to differentiate their product offerings."
Early Bone Apposition
Within four weeks of implantation Invibio PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced polymer demonstrated enhanced bone apposition compared to PEEK-OPTIMA Natural, in a pre-clinical in vivo study using a sheep model. Within 12 weeks of implantation the bone apposition levels are maintained with the new grade.
PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced Biomaterial provides excellent mechanical properties and performance, proven biocompatibility, a modulus similar to cortical bone, reducing stress shielding and a high degree of radiolucency that allows for clear fusion assessment. Developed by the world leader in implantable PEEK-based biomaterials this innovation not only offers the same processing simplicity as PEEK-OPTIMA, but also omits the extra processing time and expense of alternative bone on-growth technologies, such as coatings.
Professor Bill Walsh, Director of Surgical & Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, University of New South Wales, will present the latest data on PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced, the new material for bone apposition, at the upcoming spinal meetings Eurospine on October 1-4, 2013, in Liverpool, UK, and NASS on October 9-11, 2013, in New Orleans USA. For more information visit: http://turbochargefusion.com/.
PEEK-OPTIMA is a registered trade mark of Invibio Biomaterial Solutions.
1Study evaluated the bone in-growth and on-growth of PEEK-OPTIMA Natural and PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced in a bone defect model in a sheep. Data on file at Invibio. This has not been correlated with human clinical experience.