Abstract
The behavior of solid percutaneous connectors made of gold, stainless steel, vitreous carbon and titanium was studied in humans. Evaluation parameters were biocompatibility studied by conventional histochemical methods, surface degradation studied by scanning electron microscopy, and electrical impedance.
The results showed after two months very slight inflammatory reaction for carbon and titanium and moderate epidermal downgrowth. In stainless steel, histology showed a somewhat more pronounced reaction, whereas in gold, there was a macroscopic inflammatory reaction. No signs of surface degradation was found in any of the materials. The electrical impedance was constant throughout the experiment.
It is concluded that of the materials investigated, vitreous carbon and titanium are preferable in percutaneous connector applications. The higher impedance seen in vitreous carbon favors the use of titanium in electrical stimulation. Careful surgery with minimal trauma, controlled surface characteristics and a pure inert material are termed factors of importance to make percutaneous connector applications successful.
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This project was supported by The Swedish Board for Technical Development and The Neubergh Foundation.
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Kadefors, R., Herberts, P. & Almström, C. A comparison of materials for percutaneous connectors. Ann Biomed Eng 2, 274–288 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368498
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368498