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LINK PorEx® Surface Modification
Our solutions for allergic reactions.
“Golden days” for patients who are sensitive to metal:
Joint prostheses with hypoallergenic surface modification
The hypoallergenic TiNbN surface modification LINK PorEx® is the ideal solution for patients with a suspected metal hypersensitivity. LINK PorEx® Surface Modification reduces the release of allergenic ions by around ~95%1. In addition, it has a low coefficient of friction vis-à-vis polyethylene (UHMWPE) due to its outstanding hardness, its ceramic-like abrasion behavior, and its wetting angle in contact with liquids2 3 4. All this results in optimized sliding and friction properties for the prosthesis together with a considerable reduction in wear.
LINK PorEx® is a titanium niobium nitride (TiNbN) hard surface modification which has been in use in Europe for over ten years to offer protection against wear and allergies in orthopedic applications. LINK PorEx® surface modification only contains the hypoallergenic elements titanium and niobium, and no chrome or nickel.
Excellent adhesive strength, optimal fatigue strength
In addition to its great strength, biocompatibility5 6 7, high corrosion resistance8 9 and wear protection, LINK PorEx® surface modification is also characterized by pronounced adhesive strength and high fatigue strength10. The thickness of the LINK PorEx® Surface Modification is 4.5 ± 1.5 µm. In terms of hardness, LINK PorEx® achieves values of approx. 2400 HV (0.1 N), compared to around 550 HV (0.1 N) for CoCrMo alloys.
The “golden four” from LINK
LINK PorEx® Surface Modification is available for the LINK® GEMINI® SL® Total Knee Replacement
the LINK® Unicondylar Sled and the LINK® Endo-Model® Standard- and M Knee Prosthesis (except cemented Modular Stems) . All other suitable LINK implants, e.g., Arthrodesis Nails, can be customized with LINK PorEx®. For patients who suffer hypersensitivity reactions to bone cement, LINK also offers the surface as a customized version for cementless fixation.
Solutions for hip patients
For patients with hip replacements who are hypersensitive to metal or allergic to titanium, LINK offers special customized solutions.
LINK has been developing joint implants, made in Germany, for 50 years.
LINK® Unicondylar Sled Prosthesis with golden LINK PorEx® Surface Modification (right)
1: Untersuchung zum Einfluß von TiNbN-Beschichtungen auf die Ionenausgabe von CoCrMo-Legierungen in SBF Puffer nach Simulatorversuch
2: R. M. Streicher, Möglichkeiten der Optimierung von Gleitpaarungen gegen UHMWPE für künstliche Gelenke, Biomed.Technik Band 35, Heft 4/1990
3: M. J. Pappas, Titanium Nitride Ceramic Film against Polyethylene, Clinical Orthopedics Vol. 317,1995
4: Dr. rer. nat. Kremling, Untersuchungen zum tribologischen Verhalten einer Kniegelenkendoprothese mit der Gleitpaarung TiN-Polyethylen im Kniegelenksimulator, Prüfbericht IMA Dresden GmbH
5: R. Thull, K.-D. Handke, E.J. Karle, Examination of Titanium coated with (Ti,Nb)ON and (Ti,Zr)O in an Animal Experiment, Biomedizinische Technik, Band 40, Heft 10/1995
6: J. Eulert, R.Thull Standardised Testing of Bone/ Implant Interfaces using an Osteoblast Cell Culture system, Biomedizinische Technik Band 45 Heft 12/2000
7: Test report Bioserv AG, Analysis of TiNbN in accordance with ISO 10993-5, 2006
8: R. Thull, Corrosion behavior of dental alloys coated with Titanium Niobium Oxinitride, Deutsche Zahnärztliche Zeitschrift 1991 Nov., Universität Würzburg
9: Test report DOT GmbH and Nordum GmbH, Examination of influence of PVD – coatings to the ion release of CoCrMo-alloys in SBF– buffer, 2006
10: A. Wilson, A comparison of the wear and fatigue properties of PVD TiN, CrN and duplex coatings on Ti-6Al-4V, International Conference of Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films, San Diego 1993