on Pyrocarbon

Pyrocarbon has attractive mechanical properties for orthopedic implants. Pyrocarbon is a biochemically inert material. The material is gaining acceptance for use in orthopedics due to its biocompatibility, low friction coefficient and high resistance to wear. Its elasticity modulus is similar to cortical bone, making it attractive for implant-bone stress transfer.

Pyrocarbon implants have no mechanical or chemical fixation to bone. The implants are stabilized by press-fitting. After initial insertion, appositional bone growth occurs around the prosthetic stem when stabilized mechanically by the surrounding cortical bone. Coating of a pyrocarbon implant with a bone mimicking surface like the HA^nano Surface will generate an implant with properties similar to that of human bone. This will create better integration of the implant.