1. Cardiac Stents
When a person's coronary artery becomes blocked by plaque, restricting blood flow, medical titanium alloy stents are used. Doctors deliver the folded stent through a catheter to the blocked area, where it unfolds like a small umbrella. This action widens the previously narrowed and obstructed vessel, restoring blood flow. This procedure offers new hope to many patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
Currently, the most common stent materials on the market are nickel-titanium alloys or cobalt-chromium alloys. Previously, some stents were made of stainless steel. However, stainless steel stents are rarely used now due to various drawbacks.
Compared to cobalt-chromium alloys, nickel-titanium alloys possess shape memory properties. Once inside the body, they gradually return to their pre-set shape at body temperature. They can withstand a certain degree of deformation without permanent distortion. Combined with their elastic modulus close to that of blood vessels, excellent biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance, titanium alloy cardiac stents hold significant potential for clinical applications.
2. Dental Applications
Medical titanium alloys represent cutting-edge technology in dentistry, serving as a lifesaver for patients through their corrosion resistance, lightweight durability, and superior biocompatibility. From dental implants and orthodontics to maxillofacial reconstruction, they virtually handle all facial hardware upgrades.
For instance, titanium-nickel alloy wires used in orthodontics exhibit exceptional superelasticity—they maintain proper corrective force even under 10% deformation without plastic deformation. Simultaneously, the wire's elasticity delivers a gentle, sustained force with shape memory properties. This eliminates frequent appliance adjustments, allowing teeth to move within physiological limits at optimal speed to achieve correction. It causes no adverse effects on periodontal tissues and remains entirely comfortable.
For instance, medical titanium alloys can be precisely integrated with 3D printing to perfectly reconstruct mandibular angles damaged by accidents or tumors. Sandblasting and acid etching create honeycomb structures, maximizing restoration of the patient's appearance.
3. The Most Widely Used Medical Titanium Alloy Implants
Biomedical titanium alloy screws represent the most extensively applied and highest-usage medical titanium alloy instruments in healthcare. From orthopedic surgery to dental restoration, these small yet precise components serve as core technological carriers for skeletal reconstruction and fixation due to their exceptional performance.
It is estimated that over 20 million surgeries globally utilize titanium alloy screws annually, with applications expanding into more than 20 specialized fields, including craniofacial reconstruction and artificial joint fixation.
With the advancement of 3D printing technology, customized titanium alloy screws have entered clinical use. By reconstructing bone defect models from CT data, custom-shaped screws perfectly matching the patient's anatomy can be manufactured. Surface microporous treatment promotes osteoblast ingrowth, significantly enhancing bone-screw bonding strength.
Unique Advantages of Titanium Alloy Implants
First, medical-grade titanium alloys are non-toxic and inert, rarely triggering immune rejection or allergic reactions, making them suitable for long-term implantation. Second, their elastic modulus closely matches human bone, minimizing stress shielding-induced bone resorption. Most importantly, titanium alloys offer high strength and corrosion resistance, enabling them to thrive in the human body while performing the daily functions of natural bone.
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