Lucideon adds accelerated aging of UHMWPE orthopedic implants to wear and fatigue testing services

Lucideon, the international materials technology company, is pleased to announce that it has added accelerated aging of UHMWPE polymer orthopedic implants to its range of wear and fatigue testing services.

The service, which is carried out in accordance with ASTM F2003, is performed to support FDA and regulatory submissions, as well as R&D programs on new polymer materials. Both conventional polymers and advanced UHMWPE components, such as Vitamin E stabilized UHMWPE components, can be treated.

Gemma Budd, Healthcare Business Manager at Lucideon, said:

The test we perform simulates the effects of real life oxidation on polymer components via raised temperature and oxygen pressures.

As the oxidation may affect the mechanical performance of implants and devices, we may advise clients to have their implants aged before additional mechanical wear testing is carried out, depending on the materials being used. This simulates a worse-case scenario for evaluation.

Typical applications for the new test include aging of acetabular liners in advance of total hip joint wear testing (ISO 14242) and impingement testing (ASTM F2582), and aging of tibial inserts in advance of total knee joint wear testing (ISO 14243).

In addition to its wear and fatigue testing facilities in the UK, the US and the Far East, Lucideon offers a full tribological service including surface evaluation, materials characterization, and failure, debris and wear pattern analysis.

Lucideon is ISO 17025 accredited and works to universally accepted ISO and ASTM standards, as well as developing test methods where standards are not yet available.