Patented Premium Technology
Aesculap has created Advanced Surface Technology to improve the longevity of an implant and optimize implant performance. Advanced Surface Technology is an extremely hard, scratch-resistant surface designed to lubricate and glide across the polyethylene. Exposure to scratches can accelerate the wear of the implant. The top layer of Advanced Surface Technology is ceramic which is an extremely hard material. Advanced Surface Technology is a 7-layer technology applied to all Aesculap metal knee implants within each respective system. This patented premium technology was designed to create a barrier to help reduce the potential for metal ion release and reduce wear for longevity of the implant. Aesculap Implant Systems has been applying this technology to knee implants since 2007. Aesculap is the only manufacturer that has this premium technology on both the femoral and tibial implant, as well as other metal implant components that may be used during surgery.
Wear
In your natural knee, the end of your thigh bone rubs against your meniscus and causes friction. The friction applied by your knee causes osteoarthritis which over time may result in the need for a knee replacement. In a knee implant, the femoral component (which covers the end of your thigh bone) rubs against the plastic middle component. As your body moves through natural movements from daily activities, the friction caused by joint surfaces rubbing together can cause the polyethylene component to wear away, similar to wearing away the bottom of a shoe. Wear and aseptic loosening caused by debris, such as cement components, is the number one reason for revision surgery. It is extremely important to have a femoral implant and polyethylene designed to mitigate the amount of wear. Mitigating wear helps to reduce the need for revision surgery.1
The Advance Surface Technology in conjunction with the design of the implant increases the longevity of your prosthetic.
On a hot day, pavement on roadways can crack from forces applied by cars. When a pavement cracks, small debris and rocks can surface and cause additional damage. In a knee implant, forces applied from daily activities can cause microfractures of the implant which can lead to metal ions being released into the bloodstream. The multi-layers of the Advanced Surface Technology gradually move from an extremely hard material to a soft base material and act as a potential buffer to trap ions from being released into the bloodstream. The hard top layer of Advanced Surface Technology reinforces the subsequent layers below and acts as a final potential barrier to metal ion release. This gradual adjustment in hardness makes Advanced Surface an extremely resilient product and potentially resistant to cracks.2,3
1 National Joint Registry of England and Wales 2010
2 Reich J., Hovy L., Lindenmaier H.-L., Zeller R., Schwiesau J., Thomas P., Grupp T. M. Preclinical Evaluation of Coated Knee Implants for Allergic Patients. Der Orthopäde. Volume 39; Number 5; 2010 May
3 Santana AE. Relating hardness-curve shapes with deformation mechanisms in TiAlN thin films indentation. Materials Science and Engineering A 406(2005) 11-18
