Straumann has invented a new material to replace titanium in implants, the company announced.
The new material, Roxolid, is an alloy of titanium and zirconia. It was 50% stronger than titanium, integrated better into patients' bones, and was harder to remove in a preclinical trial, Straumann researchers said last week at the European Association for Osseointegration meeting in Warsaw, Poland.
In theory, these properties would allow the use of smaller implants where there is insufficient space to support full-sized implants.
The company has placed Roxolid implants in 88 patients with no adverse reactions, and is about to launch a clinical trial with more than 300 patients.
Straumann expects to bring the product to market in 2009.
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