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OXINIUM alloy-on-XLPE

R3◊ system with OXINIUM◊ alloy is the most advanced bearing option available

OXINIUM◊ is an Oxidized Zirconium alloy (97.5% Zirconium and 2.5% Niobium) with a transformed ceramic surface providing the wear performance of ceramics and the strength of metals. This provides all of the benefits of ceramic and metal bearing technology. OXINIUM◊ material is especially useful for nickel-sensitive patients. OXINIUM material is an award winning, clinically proven advanced bearing material that is designed for active patients.

OXINIUM◊ material along with 10 Mrad XLPE provides the wear performance of hard bearings along with the intraoperative options of hard-on-soft bearing. OXINIUM◊ material has a clinical history of more than 10 years. Over 190,000 components have been implanted successfully to date. Impressive clinical wear performance of OXINIUM◊ heads was supported by an RSA clinical study from Dr. Bo Nivbrant.⁴

R3◊ system with OXINIUM◊ alloy-on-XLPE

The Smith & Nephew 10 Mrad, fully annealed XLPE is the only crosslinked polyethylene proven to produce less volume of wear debris particles in all size ranges.^{5, 6}Less wear debris provides a reduced chance for osteolysis.

All currently marketed crosslinked poly indicates a significant improvement in the volume of wear debris, which would lead one to assume all crosslinked poly is the same. However, Smith & Nephew investigated more closely and found that not all crosslinked poly minimizes the amount of particles generated. Because the wear particles of crosslinked poly can be smaller in size than with UHMWPE, it is possible to reduce the volume but actually increase the number of particles.^5.6Even though there are questions about some crosslinked poly increasing the number of particles, many surgeons are adopting the use of these materials in most of their more active patients.

The Smith & Nephew crosslinked polyethylene significantly reduces the number of particles generated. The gravimetric wear rate of R3 XLPE is not measurable in a hip simulator, but the number of particles generated is reduced by 80% compared to traditional CoCr on conventional poly bearing.⁷

Standard unirradiated polyethylene
5 Mrad irradiated crosslinked poly, showing an increase in the number of particles in conjunction with a decrease in average size
10 Mrad irradiated R3 XLPE showing a reduction in total number of particles

References

4 Li MG, Zhou ZK, Wood DJ, et al. Low wear with high-cross linked polyethylene especially in combination with OXINIUM heads. A RSA evaluation. Poster no. 643 presented at: Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting; March 19–22, 2006; Chicago, IL.

5 Scott M, Morrison M, Mishra SR, Jani S. A method to quantify wear particle volume using atomic force microscopy. ORS Transactions. 2002:27:132.

6 Ries MD, Scott ML. Realationship between gravimetric wear and particle generation in hip simulators: conventional versus crosslinked polyethylene. Scientific exhibit at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Feb 27–March 4, 2001; San Francisco, CA.

7 Good V, Widding K, Heuer D, Hunter G. Reduced wear using the ceramic surface on oxidized zirconium heads. In: Lazennec JY, Dietrich M, eds. Bioceramics in Joint Arthroplasty. Darmstadt, Germany: Steinkopff; 2004:93–98.