Allografts are the main “traditional” orthopaedic biomaterials. This market segment includes bone allografts (fresh, or freeze-dried bone; also demineralized bone) and soft-tissue allografts, including cartilage, tendons and meniscus.
The global market for all allografts in 2006 is estimated at $1.5 billion, with bone allografts contributing half of that, soft-tissue allografts $500 million, and demineralized bone the [...]
Growth in the U.S. market for orthopedic biomaterials is expected to be somewhat faster than in Europe and significantly greater than in the developing world, partly because new biomaterials are relatively expensive and their uptake is related, in general terms, to GDP. Newly-emerging technologies such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are expected to grow at [...]
Biomaterial is an abbreviated form of the term biocompatible material, which can be defined as “a synthetic or natural material used to replace part of a living system or to function in intimate contact with living tissue”. Biomaterials are intended to interface with biological systems; they may be viable or non-viable. Artificial hips, vascular stents, [...]
Surgeons performing instrumented spinal fusion procedures implant various configurations of plates, rods, screws, cages, and other medical hardware to stabilize the spine and facilitate proper vertebral bone fusion. These fixation systems can be implanted via anterior (from the front) or posterior (from the back) approaches, depending on the clinical indication. Most fusion systems are made [...]