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Bioresorbable Implants: The Future of Medical Devices

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ashwinicmi
Bioresorbable Implants: The Future of Medical Devices

Bioresorbable implants are made from materials that dissolve or degrade in the body over time. These implants offer potential benefits over permanent implants by eliminating the need for later removal surgery. They overcome limitations of traditional permanent implants and pave the way for new medical applications. This article discusses the technology behind bioresorbable implants, current applications, and the future potential.


What are Bioresorbable Implants?

Bioresorbable implants are manufactured using biomaterials that break down safely and get absorbed by the body after fulfilling their intended function. Commonly used biomaterials for these implants include polymers made from lactic acid and glycolic acid. As the implant degrades, it gets metabolized into carbon dioxide and water which are easily excreted from the body.


The rate of degradation can be finely controlled by adjusting material composition and characteristics. Implants are designed to retain their strength and stability for a predetermined time duration needed for tissue healing or other therapeutic effects. Once this is achieved and the implant is no longer needed, it gets bioabsorbed without requiring removal surgery. This self-dissolving property avoids long-term implantation risks and makes bioresorbable implants an attractive proposition.


Current Applications

Some widely used applications of bioresorbable implants currently include:


- Sutures and Stents: Bioresorbable Implants sutures that dissolve on their own over time are commonly used in surgery instead of permanent metal or plastic sutures. Bioresorbable stents that expand clogged blood vessels and dissolve after therapy are also gaining prominence in cardiology.


- Orthopedic Fixation: Bioresorbable pins, rods, screws are replacing traditional metal implants for fracture fixation in small bones and joints. They provide the needed strength and stability during healing before disappearing from the site.


- Drug Delivery: These implants are utilized as controlled drug delivery systems, with the drug encapsulated within and released at predetermined rates as the implant breaks down. This offers sustained localized drug therapy.


- Temporomandibular Joint Replacement: Bioresorbable scaffolds are being evaluated for temporary reconstruction of temporomandibular joints to promote bone and tissue regeneration until permanent recovery.


Future Opportunities

Bioresorbable implant technology holds immense potential for future medical applications as our understanding of biomaterials improves. Some promising upcoming usage includes:


- Craniomaxillofacial Reconstruction: These implants can be customized as customized plates and scaffolds for rebuilding facial bones and structures with minimal long term impact.


- Tissue Engineering: Bioresorbable polymeric scaffolds serving as temporary templates are pivotal for tissue engineering and regenerating complex tissues/organs like cartilage and bone.


- Pediatric Surgery: Dissolving implants address growth-related concerns in pediatric patients by avoiding later explant surgeries as the child develops.


- Coronary Scaffolds: Fully bioresorbable scaffolds mimicking natural vessel wall without permanent polymer residue show potential for advanced interventional cardiology.


- Neural Prosthetics: Biocompatible, transient implants may interface biological tissues to develop advanced brain-machine interfaces of tomorrow.


While further research promises even more applications, bioresorbable implants have already revolutionized certain areas of medicine. Perfecting their functionality, long-term safety, and cost-effectiveness would make them invaluable substitutes to permanent metallic and plastic implants across specialties. With continued advancements, these self-dissolving medical devices certainly represent the future.

 

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