CoCrMo Alloy for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Metallic materials used in biomedical applications have become increasingly important as the number of various implanted devices, e.g., orthopedic, cardiovascular, dental, and ophthalmological implants, constantly increases. In addition to titanium-based alloys and stainless steel, cobalt--chromium--molybdenum alloy (CoCrMo) is one of the most important materials used in orthopedic applications, i.e., total hip replacements. The increasing number of implanted hip replacements is the result of the prolongation of the average life expectancy and an active lifestyle in older age. Among the diseases of the joint that in most cases require surgical treatment, osteoarthritis is the most important. After implantation of a hip prosthesis, pain is reduced and the functionality of the joint is recovered. The average lifetime of the implanted prosthesis is about 15 years. Compared to implants used in the 1970s, the lifetime of contemporary hip prostheses progressively increases because of progress in surgical techniques, treatment, material manufacturing, and quality control. The ultimate goal is to produce hip prostheses that would endure the average postsurgical lifetime of more than 20 years and enable the patient to live an active lifestyle without pain. To achieve this goal, understanding alloy behavior in vitro and in vivo is crucial.