Porous NiTi shape memory alloys produced by SHS: microstructure and biocompatibility in comparison with Ti2Ni and TiNi3

Multifunctional coatings of nickel-titanium implant toward promote osseointegration after operation of bone tumor and clinical application: a review

Metal implants, especially Ni-Ti shape memory alloy (Ni-Ti SMA) implants, have increasingly become the first choice for fracture and massive bone defects after orthopedic bone tumor surgery. In this paper, the internal composition and shape memory properties of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy were studied. In addition, the effects of porous Ni-Ti SMA on osseointegration, and the effects of surface hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity on the osseointegration of Ni-Ti implants were also investigated. In addition, the effect of surface coating modification technology of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy on bone bonding was also studied. Several kinds of Ni-Ti alloy implants commonly used in orthopedic clinic and their advantages and disadvantages were introduced. The surface changes of Ni-Ti alloy implants promote bone fusion, enhance the adhesion of red blood cells and platelets, promote local tissue regeneration and fracture healing. In the field of orthopaedics, the use of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy implants significantly promoted clinical development. Due to the introduction of the coating, the osseointegration and biocompatibility of the implant surface have been enhanced, and the success rate of the implant has been greatly improved.

Influence of Milling-Electrochemical Polishing on Corrosion Resistance of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy

As an important artificial implant material, the corrosion resistance of NiTi shape memory alloy is closely related to the machined surface quality. In this paper, the multiple analysis methods concerning potentiodynamic polarization, impedance spectrum and corrosion morphology are used to analyze the corrosion resistance of the alloy. The potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectrum test results show that the conductivity and corrosion current density of electrochemical polishing surface decrease, and the polarization resistance and corrosion potential increase compared with milling. After electrochemical polishing, the surface roughness of the milling sample is decreased, and the NiTi alloy of austenite phase is transformed into TiO₂, which improves the corrosion resistance of the alloy. In addition, there are pitting corrosion, hole corrosion and crevice corrosion morphology on the milling surface, while the pitting corrosion and hole corrosion exist on the electrochemical polishing surface. The corrosion morphology verified the analysis of potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectrum. The multiple analysis method proposed in this paper can be used as a more accurate evaluation method for the corrosion resistance of alloy surface, avoiding the error of analysis results caused by the impedance spectrum equivalent circuit and potentiodynamic polarization following Tafel relationship.

Molten Salt Synthesis of Intermetallic Compound TiNi Nanopowder Passivated by TiOx Shell Prepared from NiTiO3 for Catalytic Hydrogenation

Titanium-nickel alloy is an attractive material due to its unique properties of shape memory effect, superior elasticity, and biocompatibility. Generally, Ti-Ni alloy powders are prepared from pure elemental powders of Ti and Ni as starting materials, but it is an energy-intensive process to obtain pure titanium. In this study, intermetallic compound TiNi powder passivated by TiO_x shell was prepared by directly reducing a commercial NiTiO₃ using CaH₂ reducing agent in a molten LiCl at 650 °C. Analyses by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy/transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the powder had a core-shell structure, with the core of TiNi and the shell of TiO_x-rich composition with scarce metallic Ni nicely catalyzing hydrogenation reactions with good recyclability and stability.

Study on Phase Transformation and Electrochemical Corrosion of TiNi Alloy Formed by Laser Solid Forming

TiNi shape memory alloy (SMA) prepared by laser solid forming (LSF) has wide application prospect and research value. In this work, LSF-Ti49.2Ni50.8 alloy was tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microscopic characterization results show that there is a small amount of martensitic slat in TiNi alloy besides the TiNi substrate. Lenticular R phase is densely distributed around the martensitic slat. B2→R and R→M phase transitions occur in the alloy due to the high cooling rate during laser solid forming. The results of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and electrochemical corrosion test show that the alloy has good biocompatibility and excellent corrosion resistance and has the potential to be used as a biomedical material.

Mechanical Analysis and Clinical Application of Butterfly-Shaped Patellar Claw

Memory alloy patella claws for treating patella fractures have been used for more than 30 years with many desirable features including fast healing, quick recovery, and avoidance of top abrasion of Kirschner wires and other complications. However, there are many models and it is difficult to choose the accurate claw for the patient. In this study, a finite element model of the butterfly-shaped patellar claw made of shape memory alloy was established, its mechanical structure was analyzed, and its clinical application was monitored. We used Solidworks Simulation software for modeling and mainly analyzed the force of the compression ring of the butterfly-shaped patellar claw. Clinically, we chose a closed fresh patella fracture case. After finite element analysis, the maximum stress that the compression ring of the butterfly-shaped patellar claw can withstand is 568.1 MPa. In this range, it always has elastic deformation resistance. The butterfly-shaped patella claw is fixed on the patella and will not break when subjected to a maximum force of 150 N on the encircling arm, and at the same time, there will be no pressure failure due to plastic deformation. A total of 27 cases were clinically used for the assessment of the clinical efficacy of the newly designed butterfly-shaped patella claws. The average follow-up time was 15.5 months, and the average fracture healing time was 8-12 weeks. All patients can get out of bed with crutches within 2 to 3 days after surgery. Among them, there were 15 cases with excellent functional ratings, 10 cases with good ratings, 2 cases with acceptable ratings, and no cases with poor ratings. The designed butterfly-shaped patella claws can provide an effective method for the treatment of patella fractures.

Comparison of the Kirschner Wire Tension Band with a Novel Nickel-Titanium Arched Shape-Memory Alloy Connector in Transverse Patellar Fractures: A Retrospective Study

This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of the nickel-titanium arched shape-memory alloy connector (hereafter referred to as the ASC) and tension band fixation for the treatment of transverse patellar fractures. We retrospectively analyzed a total of 257 patients with transverse patellar fractures who were treated at our emergency orthopaedics department from March 2010 to March 2017. Either an ASC or the Kirschner wire (K-wire) tension band had been used to treat these fractures according to surgeons' experience and preference. We compared operative details, postoperative recovery, and postoperative knee function at 6 months. In terms of surgical duration, blood loss, incision length, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications, patients in the ASC group showed significantly better results than patients in the K-wire group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of fracture healing time, knee mobility, and the Boström score at the postoperative 6-month evaluation (p > 0.05). Though, there were similar functional outcomes between two groups whose transverse patellar fractures were different methods, we found that the ASC method was a more reliable, more minimally invasive, and safer treatment option than the tension band wiring method using K-wires, resulting in less tissue damage, shorter surgical duration, shorter length of hospital stay, and fewer complications.

Tissue Integration and Biological Cellular Response of SLM-Manufactured Titanium Scaffolds

Background: SLM (Selective Laser Melting)–manufactured Titanium (Ti) scaffolds have a significant value for bone reconstructions in the oral and maxillofacial surgery field. While their mechanical properties and biocompatibility have been analysed, there is still no adequate information regarding tissue integration. Therefore, the aim of this study is a comprehensive systematic assessment of the essential parameters (porosity, pore dimension, surface treatment, shape) required to provide the long-term performance of Ti SLM medical implants. Materials and methods: A systematic literature search was conducted via electronic databases PubMed, Medline and Cochrane, using a selection of relevant search MeSH terms. The literature review was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA). Results: Within the total of 11 in vitro design studies, 9 in vivo studies, and 4 that had both in vitro and in vivo designs, the results indicated that SLM-generated Ti scaffolds presented no cytotoxicity, their tissue integration being assured by pore dimensions of 400 to 600 µm, high porosity (75–88%), hydroxyapatite or SiO2–TiO2 coating, and bioactive treatment. The shape of the scaffold did not seem to have significant importance. Conclusions: The SLM technique used to fabricate the implants offers exceptional control over the structure of the base. It is anticipated that with this technique, and a better understanding of the physical interaction between the scaffold and bone tissue, porous bases can be tailored to optimize the graft’s integrative and mechanical properties in order to obtain structures able to sustain osseous tissue on Ti.

Processing and damping capacity of NiTi foams with laminated pore architecture

N_50.5Ti_49.5 foams with porosity 25.5% were prepared by transient liquid sintering process. Laminated pore architecture was created in the foam via pre-mixing Ni and Ti powders layer-by-layer. The foam consists of alternate less porous alloy layers with discontinuous closed pores and highly porous layers with continuous open pores. The sintered Ni_50.5Ti_49.5 foams exhibited three-step martensite transformation (MT), i.e. B2→ (R + B19'), B2→B19' and R→B19', due to the presence of heterogeneously distributed micron-sized Ni₄Ti₃ precipitates. By contrast, the aged Ni_50.5Ti_49.5 foam showed two-step B2→R→B19' MT with homogeneous nano-sized Ni₄Ti₃ phase. Anisotropic compressive strength and modulus were found in the sintered foam. The sintered foam had a high damping capacity (tanδ = 0.047) in the martensite and low damping capacity (tanδ = 0.002) in the austenite. However, the aged foam exhibited improved damping capacity (tanδ = 0.01) in the austenite. The enhanced damping capacity of austenite was attributed to the localized plastic deformation in nodes/struts and stress-induced B2-R MT. Furthermore, a damping peak at a temperature of 130 °C related to the (R + B19')→B2 transition during heating was confirmed. The laminated pore architecture foams with anisotropic mechanical properties may be promising candidate materials for bio- and mechanical applications.

Treatment of patella fracture by claw-like shape memory alloy

INTRODUCTION

Titanium-nickel shape memory alloy (Ti-Ni SMA) is characterized by shape-memory effect, super-elasticity, excellent fatigue behavior, corrosion resistance, acceptable biocompatibility and high damping capacity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Claw-like Ti-Ni SMA fixator (SMA-claw) has been used to treat transverse fracture of patella. 29 patients (19 males, 10 females) aged from 21 to 71 years old (averaged 43.0 years old) have been received open reduction and internal fixation with SMA-claw from January 2011 to December 2011. After operation, patients have been received gradual knee function exercises, followed by radiographic analysis and Lysholm Knee Score at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months postoperation.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time was 11.48 months (25 patients finished, 1 lost after 6 months and 3 lost after 9 months). Radiographic bone union occurred at 2 months (7 patients) or 3 months (22 patients). Satisfied range of motion for the knee joint has been observed with 1.90/141.72° (hyperextension/flexion) at 3 months, 4.83/143.97° at 6 months, 4.82/144.82° at 9 months and 5.2/145° at 12 months postsurgery.

CONCLUSION

The Ti-Ni SMA-claw fixator produced good osteosynthesis effect by continuous recovery stress with relatively simple and minimally invasive handling process, which can be introduced as an alternative to traditional tension band technique for treatment of patellar transverse fracture.