Innovative biomedical technology has granted us many materials suitable as medical implants, PEEK implants are one of them. PEEK is an outstanding engineered plastic polymer with exceptional mechanical properties to be considered a material of choice in medical implants, such as PEEK rods.
Polyether ether ketone, commonly known as PEEK, is a polymer of organic thermoplastic, a member of the PAEK family, i.e., Poly Aryl ether ketone. The oxygen bridges and phenylene rings in the chemical structure of the PEEK rod are responsible for their high melting point and thermal resisting properties. The material is known for its stability, strength, durability, and resilience.
Developed in the 1970s, Peek has gained popularity and great acceptance in the biomedical industry due to its enormous compatibility and properties as a medical implant. PEEK polymer is now the highest-performing material in the world. The use of implantable medical PEEK started in the late 1990s by doctors.
Table of Contents
PEEK’s unique strength as medical-grade implant material
1. Good designability: can be designed into different shapes and forms
PEEK, as a member of the PAEK family, is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic, which makes it possible for a PEEK rod to be reshaped, at a high temperature, as required as a medical implant. PEEK can be designed into several shapes and forms as required, giving innovation in the industry of medical implants.
PEEK rods have shown remarkable felicities over typical biomedical implants such as metallic alloys, ceramics, and polyethylenes. PEEK is now used to design medical implants in joint replacement systems, spine implants, and cages in vertebral fusion surgeries.
2. Physical adjustability and flexibility
Flexibility is yet another outstanding property of PEEK material, making it a great alternative to the bone tissues. As compared to other conventional biomedical implants such as titanium, stainless steel PEEK shows more physical adjustability in human bodies. PEEK rod mimics the flexibility and stress-bearing ability of cortical bone, which enables PEEK to be a leading biomedical material for arthroscopy, trauma fixation, orthopedics implants, and spinal fusion.
3. Biological compatibility
PEEK has been clinically proven as the safest biomaterial for in vivo medical implants. The extensive clinical testing, which includes the standard USP Class VI testing has demonstrated the biocompatibility of PEEK rods as medical implants.
Clinical trials are conducted to check the toxicity of and other allergy-producing properties of PEEK material in several stages, conditions, and exposures. PEEK rods have passed all the trials, and do not exhibit any signs of in vivo toxicities and allergies. It has been considered the most biologically compatible material for medical implants.
4. High radiation resistance
PEEK polymer possesses radiation-resistant property, which is a must for further X-ray examination. It is the second main reason for choosing the PEEK rods as the most preferred medical implant.
To evaluate the healing condition after medical implantation surgeries, the surgeon needs to examine it through X-ray images. Exposure to radiation can cause damage to the surface, strength, and durability of implants. But the PEEK polymer possesses reliable radiation resistance properties, and shows excellent resistance against gamma radiations and X-rays, so highly preferred as the best plastic biomaterial for medical implants.
5. Chemical unreactive; maintain good hydrolysis resistance under high temperature
One of the most chemically inert and unreactive polymers available is bio-implantable PEEK. The chemical unreactive property of PEEK is tested after exposure to many different solutions such as simulated body fluids, glycerol, vegetable oil, normal saline solution, and alcohol. There are no changes evinced by any chemical on the mechanical properties of PEEK. Further testing is conducted, and PEEK is sterilized at 14 bar steam for about 2500 hours at 200 degrees centigrade. The polymer manifested high-strength mechanical properties and extreme resistance to hydrolysis during multiple sterilization cycles.
PEEK rods by JUNSUN
PEEK rods by JUNSUN are the best quality recognized biomedical products. Some of the eminent specifications about JUNSUN are:
- Highly engaged in R&D and innovative research-based production of PEEK according to the demand of the latest medical technologies, for a decade.
- At JUNSUN, we enjoy expertise while production is in compliance with GMP requirements.
- We support customization as required.
JUNSUN is a trustworthy name as a professional supplier of high-tech industrial development and production of innovative medical-grade implantable PEEK. We are an ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certified manufacturer and supplier of medical grade PEEK, worldwide. Contact us to learn more about us and our products!
