The Applications Of Nickel Alloy In Medical Field

1. Medical stainless steel

At present, the most widely used and widely used type of biomedical metal materials. Medical stainless steel is mainly used in the replacement and repair of the skeletal system. In addition, it is also used in dentistry, cardiac surgery, and cardiovascular implant stents. Austenitic stainless steels, especially 304, 316 and 316L stainless steels, have better corrosion resistance than other stainless steels. 316L stainless steel is a commonly used metal material for medical artificial joints, mainly used for joint handles and joint heads, puncture needles, catheters, needle tubes, etc.

2. Medical cobalt-based alloys

Compared with stainless steel, medical metal materials commonly used in medical treatment, medical cobalt-based alloys are more suitable for manufacturing long-term implants with harsh body bearing conditions. However, due to the relatively expensive price of cobalt-based alloys, and the biological problems of Co and Ni in the alloys such as sensitization, the application is limited to a certain extent. In recent years, surface modification techniques have been used to improve the surface characteristics of cobalt-based alloys. Effectively improve its clinical effect. Co-based alloys usually refer to Co-Cr alloys. There are two basic grades: Co-Cr-Mo and Co-Ni-Cr-Mo alloys. Forged Co-Ni-Cr-Mo alloy is a new material used to manufacture the backbone of joint replacement prosthesis connectors, such as knee and hip replacement prostheses.

3. Medical titanium and titanium alloys

Artificial joints, bone plates and screws made of titanium and titanium alloys have been widely used in clinical practice. They are also used in hip joints (including femoral heads), knee joints, elbow joints, metacarpophalangeal joints, interphalangeal joints, lower collar bones, artificial Vertebral body (spine orthosis), pacemaker housing, artificial heart (heart valve), artificial dental implants, and titanium mesh in cranial plastic surgery. The most significant performance feature of titanium alloy is that its elastic modulus and density are close to human hard tissues, so it is widely used in the field of orthopedics. The performance of Ti-6Al-4V alloy is better than pure titanium. Ti-6Al-4V can be used in the manufacture of artificial joints and orthopedic internal fixators.

4. Nitinol memory alloy

Since the application of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy in medicine, in addition to more applications in plastic surgery and dentistry, in recent years, it has been increasingly used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, especially the increasing popularity of stent interventional therapy. Various memory alloy stents have begun to be used in the treatment of coronary heart disease.

5. Other medical metals and alloys

Such as magnesium alloys, platinum group metals and tantalum.