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AGY has launched a new glass fiber biomaterial reinforcement for medical device implants.The material, HPB glass fiber, is suitable for long-term implant applications of more than 30 days and is compatible with a wide range of thermoplastic polymers such as PEEK, PEI and PPS.

According tothe manufacturer, HPB glass fiber exhibits 40% higher tensile strength and 20% higher tensile modulus compared with ordinary E-Glass fibers.

The elastic resistance of HPB glass fiber enables medical or dental devices to be developed for extended long-term implant requirements. Multiple composite applications for the oral environment such as orthodontics and dental implants, crowns, and bridges, have been developed. The company is pursuing other proprietary medical device applications, such as orthopedics.

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute reports (pdf) that its researchers have grown new blood vessels in lab animals using a collagen material that attracts new cells for tissue regeneration.

The Ottawa team created an injectable material that forms a scaffold inside the body. It sends out signals to particular cells in the blood. Those cells, called progenitors, give rise to the type of cells that make up the lining of blood vessel walls.

In experiments with laboratory rats, the team injected the scaffolding material into the muscle of a back leg, which had no blood flow after the main artery was cut. They found that the scaffold caused a great number of progenitor cells within the blood. After two weeks, more cells were seen in the muscle tissue. The teams used a blood flow monitor and found greater perfusion and blood circulation in the limb compared with the control.

Further animal research is needed, the researchers say, including trying it out on larger animals like pigs to see if new arteries to supply the heart could be formed.

The work was recently published online in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Jeremy Gilbert of Syracuse University to chair conference on materials for medical devices

A call for papers has been issued for the 2009 Conference on Materials and Processes for Medical Devices (MPMD), organized by ASM International, The Materials Information Society, held Aug. 10-12 in Minneapolis.

Held every 24 months, the MPMD event focuses on new advances and innovations in the science, technology and application of medical device materials and manufacturing.

MPMD participants include experts from academia, industry, and national laboratories involved in cardiac, vascular, neurological and GI implants, orthopaedic implants, dental devices and surgical instrumentation and devices.

Technical coverage includes biomedical alloys (including stainless steels, Ti alloys, Co-Cr alloys, Ni-Ti alloys, noble and refractory metals), biopolymers, bioceramics, surface coatings, and nanomaterials.

Participants are encouraged to submit a 300-word abstract by Feb. 16 via the MPMD Web site. Topic areas include:

Advanced Materials and Emerging Technologies
Fabrication Processes for Medical Devices
Fatigue Life and Durability of Medical Implants
Effect of Materials on Surgical Techniques
Surface Engineering of Medical Devices
Corrosion
Biostability and Biocompatibility of Medical Implants
Imaging Compatibility and Visibility of Medical Devices related to X-ray, MRI and Ultrasound
Materials R
Materials Modeling
Active Implant Materials
Bioactive/Biomimetic Surfaces and Drug Delivery Systems
Nanotechnology
Regulatory Affairs Related to Materials

Progentix Orthobiology B.V. (Bilthoven, The Netherlands ) announced that it has closed an investment agreement with NuVasive, a medical device company that develops products for minimally disruptive surgical treatments for the spine. Under the terms of the agreement NuVasive will gain access to Progentix’ synthetic bone substitutes designed to accelerate bone healing through a novel micro-structure created by a proprietary manufacturing process.

NuVasive’s initial commitment will be $15 million in cash, consisting of a $10 million equity purchase from Progentix shareholders and a $5 million loan used to fund ongoing clinical and regulatory efforts. Upon accomplishment of the complete set of pre-defined development milestones, NuVasive will be obligated to purchase the remaining equity of Progentix for $45 million, and, upon the achievement of additional milestones and NuVasive’s sales success, pay a maximum earn-out of $25 million. In addition, NuVasive obtained exclusive worldwide distribution rights as well as an exclusive option to purchase all of Progentix under certain circumstances.

Biocoat Inc. (Horsham, PA) announced that a new Hydrophilic Coatings blog has recently been created and linked to the company’s Web site. The company says the blog provides a forum for medical device manufacturers and designers on the latest developments in device coating technologies and post information and related coatings news. www.biocoat.com

How cells respond to biomaterials is the critical issue in the search for ever more inert (or positive action) materials for use in medical devices. A new book takes a close look at cell responses.

Cellular Response to Biomaterials is edited by Lucy Di Silvio and published by Woodhead Publishing.

Several chapters detail biomaterial applications in vascular grafts and muscle regeneration as well as in the repair of peripheral nerves. Concluding chapters of the book examine the effect of surfaces and proteins on cell responses including the influence of proteins on bone cell adhesion and degradation of coatings and bone substitutes. This valuable new title comprehensively reviews the field of biomaterials and assesses cell responses and direct applications for use within the medical industry.

Di Silvio is a Senior Lecturer in Biomaterials and Biomimetics at the esteemed Kings College London. She has more than 20 years experience in this field, and is president of the United Kingdom Society of Biomaterials.