Turkish Scientists Achieve a First

A First from Turkish Scientists Within the scope of a project conducted in collaboration with scientists from Hitit and İskenderun Universities, a biotribometer device has been developed that determines in a faster and more cost-effective manner whether biomaterials suitable for replacing damaged cartilage tissue in joints such as the knee, hip and shoulder meet standards. It was noted that the biotribometer device developed by Dr. Yusuf Kanca, Faculty of Engineering at Hitit University, and Assoc. Prof. Erdoğan Kanca, faculty member at İskenderun Technical University, represents a first in Turkey. In his statement, Dr. Yusuf Kanca said that for people with joint problems, it is of great importance that tests conducted to obtain data on the friction and wear performance of biomaterials used as replacements for damaged cartilage comply with standards. However, he noted that in Turkey, such data can be obtained through conventional testing devices. Explaining that testing processes conducted with conventional devices do not always yield accurate results and that this negatively affects material development processes, Dr. Kanca stated: "We prepared a project to develop a device that would identify the most suitable biomaterials needed by our citizens with joint problems in order to overcome these issues. As a result of our long-lasting work, we developed a biotribometer device, which is the first of its kind in Turkey. This device can evaluate the friction and wear performance of biomaterials under physiological conditions in accordance with ISO and ASTM standards and can determine whether their use in joints is appropriate."  

Device expected to attract significant interest

  Dr. Kanca stated that with the new device, during the material development phase, data on the material's friction and wear performance can be collected much more cost-effectively and quickly using geometric surfaces such as pins, plates and disks without the need for a joint prosthesis prototype. He continued: "While evaluation processes of the friction and wear performance of these biomaterials with joint simulators can take weeks, the device we developed can complete the process within several days. Moreover, with the developed device, tests can be conducted at body temperature and in biological fluids. During these tests that must run continuously for hours or days, it is possible to replenish the test fluid that evaporates using the syringe pump system we developed. In addition to joint prosthesis materials, the device can also test the clinical performance of biomaterials developed for brain and skin tissues in terms of friction and wear. We believe that companies developing biomaterials in the fields we mentioned and university laboratories conducting friction and wear tests will show great interest in our device with such superior features," he said.

Cost significantly lower than foreign equivalents

  Stating that the device, developed at approximately TRY 250,000, can be brought to market at a much more reasonable price than its foreign equivalents, Kanca said: "We are in contact with companies operating in the medical technologies field for the device to be brought to market. Our efforts are ongoing to bring it to market as soon as possible. As the only university specializing in machine and manufacturing technologies, we are pleased to be making a serious contribution to our country with this device."