Issue 23/2019 - PEEK shines for 3D printed implants

Plastics are increasingly sought after as innovative materials in medical technology for their low weight, mechanical durability, biocompatibility and resistance to sterilization
.
Evonik demonstrated the use
of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in 3D printing at the recent Compamed exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Compared with conventional metal solutions on the current orthopedic implant market, 3D printed PEEK implants are undoubtedly a revolutionary product
.
3D printing makes customization possible, for example, by 3D printing technology, it is possible to create a bone plate that precisely fits the patient's skull, reducing the additional surgical risk
caused by adjusting the size, shape or position of the implant.
On the other hand, PEEK has poor thermal conductivity than metal, and when exposed to high and low temperatures, it can effectively avoid the danger of
excessive or low implant temperature in the patient's body.
PEEK material is also highly biocompatible, harmless to living tissue, and patients can undergo CT and MRI examination
after surgery.