Composites Used in the Healthcare Sector

Composites Used in Healthcare Did You Know These Facts About Composites Used in Healthcare? Composites created by combining two or more materials with different chemical or physical properties are used in many sectors ranging from aerospace to construction and are among the preferred materials due to their superior properties. Healthcare is among the sectors that benefit from composites. In this article, we have compiled interesting information about composite materials used in the healthcare sector. Composite materials provide superior properties primarily because new materials can be added according to desired factors. Thus, composites that acquire the desired properties become more flexible and stronger compared to conventional materials. Thanks to these properties, composites are used in healthcare in many areas such as diagnostics, medical devices, surgical procedures and prosthetics. Looking at the most commonly used type of composite material in medicine, we encounter fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This material is frequently used in medicine due to its high hardness, light weight and biocompatibility. Medical composites have various applications depending on the material's needs and requirements for design and manufacturing. Looking at the area where they are most used, medical composites are primarily used in diagnostic imaging systems. These are patient imaging tables and accessories used in X-ray, PET, CT and MRI imaging systems. Medical composites used in diagnostic tools reduce the weight of the instrument, which provides better positioning for patients and clearer imaging. The end users of medical composites are medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic imaging centers and research centers.

Prosthetics

Composite materials are also used in orthopedic applications. Composites used in areas such as bone fixation plates and bone grafts can be manufactured with hardness similar to bone and similar tensile strength. Looking at prosthetics, we can say that they have shown significant changes and developments over the years. Prosthetics made from materials such as wood, aluminum and leather in the past had limited mobility and did not resemble limbs. Today, prosthetics manufactured using thermoplastics and composites show much greater similarity to natural limbs and have high mobility capabilities. In prosthetics, composites offer properties such as fatigue resistance and flexibility. Carbon fiber woven fabrics can also be used in prosthetic bodies. Composites are also used for resurfacing of damaged areas. Carbon composites appear in this field. In applications performed, carbon composites are placed inside cartilage in the damaged area. The material's open weave structure promotes cell growth along individual fibers and between them, resulting in high repair.

Repair of Damaged Ligaments

Carbon fibers are also used in the repair of damaged ligaments, either alone or in woven forms. Here the material rings are passed through holes opened in adjacent bone structures and then their lengths are adjusted to achieve the correct tension for a specific patient. The mechanical properties of bone repair materials can also be improved by the addition of carbon fibers. Adding carbon fibers improves tensile, compressive and shear strength as well as creep and fatigue performance, which can enable broader use of the material.

Wound Dressing

Composite materials can also be used as wound dressings. Today, many different products are used as wound care products. In deeper and difficult-to-heal wounds, wound dressing is of great importance. In recent years, composite use in wound dressings has increased and it has been observed that this has produced positive results in wound healing.

Dental Implants

We can say that teeth are among the areas where composites are most used in healthcare. In particular, resin-based composites are used in dentistry. Composites are used to restore teeth. As is known, damaged or missing teeth are now replaced with implants. Composite materials also appear in implants. Composites consisting of SiC and carbon fibers are recommended for implants. The reason for this is that these materials provide a result close to natural teeth.

Pacemakers

Pacemakers are vital for heart patients. Today, much research is being conducted to develop pacemakers. In one study conducted in Northern Ireland, experts designed a flexible and organic alternative pacemaker compared to solid pacemakers. The newly designed pacemaker was manufactured with organic composites using "natural nutrient stock" (biological materials such as cellulose) rather than expensive metals or semiconductors. The experts who developed it stated in their explanation that this new pacemaker was designed as a flexible energy storage device composed of biopolymer composites and safer electrolytes from ionic liquids. They also stated that the lifespan of the created device is longer, it has no flammable properties and has no leakage problems. One advantage of this newly designed pacemaker is that it is flexible, thus allowing easier placement in the patient's body compared to existing pacemakers.

Wheelchairs

Healthcare encompasses not only treatment methods but also devices and equipment produced for patients. Composite materials are also used in wheelchairs in this sense. Due to the light weight of composite materials, they reduce the weight of wheelchairs in which they are used and can provide more comfortable operation. We have discussed interesting areas where composite materials are used in healthcare. Looking at the medical composite market, we can say that a large majority is taken by diagnostic imaging and this proportion is gradually increasing. However, alongside this market, orthopedics is also seeing increasing composite use. With technological advances and composite materials created with superior properties, it is expected that composite use in medicine will increase.   References   Compiled by: Nilsu Kotil