Durasul® Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene
A breakthrough in long-lasting joint replacement.
A leading problem in hip and knee replacement is the wearing down of the implant surface over time.
Continuous motion between the metal and plastic polyethylene components can cause small particles to be removed from the surface of the polyethylene. Also, the polyethylene may degrade, or age, over time.
Durasul polyethylene was developed to address the problems of wear and aging.
Durasul polyethylene, when used in conjunction with clinically successful hip and knee replacement systems from Zimmer, offers patients significant promise of long-term durability.
|
Durasul was developed in conjunction with renowned orthopedic surgeon William H. Harris, MD, at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Durasul has demonstrated improved wear performance over conventional polyethylene in laboratory testing.* |
|
|
Durasul polyethylene’s unique wear-resistance is achieved through a patented electron-beam radiation process. Irradiation of the material creates crosslinks in the material's molecular structure. The polyethylene is then subjected to an increased temperature for a precise amount of time to remove free radicals. This step is the key to Durasul's resistance to aging. |
|
*The results of in vitro wear tests have not been shown to correlate with clinical wear mechanisms.
