The Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing Innovation has selected two Boston University (BU) researchers' idea for a novel piezoelectric knife design and implant as one of two research projects the center will support this year.
The researchers, from the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, proposed a flat implant system using flat piezoelectric knives and flat titanium implants. The knife can create various shapes of nonround bone cuts, as opposed to current implant drills that only make cylindrical holes, they explained in a press release. And the flat profile implant would address the need of patients with narrow residual jawbone without compromising implant stability and longevity.
The group is now in talks about prototype development.
