EnBIO’s novel platform technology is a new room temperature chemical free means of depositing bioceramic materials on the surface of any reactive metal (titanium and its alloys (including nitinol), cobalt chrome, aluminum, and some stainless steels), i.e. those metals typically utilised in implants. EnBIO has called its new process CoBlast™. read more >

CoBlast is a novel variant of the standard grit blasting process, whereby two blast jets are used on a coincident point on the surface. One jet blasts an abrasive grit which abrades and churns up the metal surface, baring the reactive metal beneath the oxide layer, while the second jet introduces the dopant material to this newly exposed surface. read more >

Engineering the surface of medical implants can lead to enhanced and novel performance allowing surgical implants to better restore lost function and reduce pain. The next great wave of innovation and development for the implantable medical device sector will focus on such surface alteration. The ultimate goal is improved surgical outcomes and well-being for the patient and a more positive result for all stakeholders.

This relatively new area, which includes coatings, is known as Surface Modification. Examples include the addition of an osteoconductive coating to the surface of an orthopedic implant which will result in better bone on-growth onto the metal surface. This means that a replacement hip will have a longer life and patients will need less revision surgery. Surface roughening of metal implants for bone applications has a similar effect. Addition of a long term antimicrobial coating to the surface of orthopedic implants constitutes another example. read more >