New Forms of Implantable PEEK
Invibio Biomaterials Solutions has announced that preliminary evaluations of new forms of its PEEK-Optima polymer (porous and fiber) show promising results in enhancing tissue interaction and integration. PEEK (polyetheretherketone), a non-resorbable, thermoplastic, has excellent biocompatibility characteristics. The material has gained wide acceptance in spine-implant design as well as in non-spine markets, including arthroscopy, dental, cardiovascular, and orthopedics. Medical grade PEEK-Optima has an optimal combination of strength, and stiffness, while being radiolucent and revisable. Additionally, its modulus of elasticity of 3.6 GPa is much closer to that of bone (cortical substance ~12 GPa) than that of other materials.