ASPEX Offer Failure Analysis Services for Biomedical Implants

Every year more than 250,000 medical devices and implants including orthopedic applications and stents are used in the United States for the management and treatment of many diseases and conditions. When these devices come in contact with human tissue and are subjected to high stress they might suffer fatigue fractures or liberate wear debris particles that often result in an inflammatory or immunological response.

Wear debris and fatigue fracture have been identified as some of the major problems associated with failure of medical devices. While these problems cannot be completely avoided, medical device manufacturers use ASPEX Analytical SEM-EDX testing services to inspect for and characterize wear properties in their products prior to distribution.

Secondary and Backscatter Electron Imaging Services

• Characterize the surface morphology, shape, and size of wear debris particles.
• Evaluate wear patterns and depth penetration of biomaterials during the development phase of new medical products.
• Analyze cross sections of the internal microstructures of new composites to determine fracture resistance and material strength.
• Identify the presence of various elements based on their corresponding atomic weights and correlate to fracture initiation sites.

Automated Wear Debris Microanalysis

Coating durability on stents is evaluated by counting and analyzing the particles released during testing exercises.