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Cetim has inaugurated its new biomechanics laboratory, based on its Saint-Etienne site: a laboratory dedicated to the mechanical characterization of orthopedic implants (static, wear, fatigue). His team works mainly on joint prostheses (hip, knee, shoulder, ankle, wrist, elbow, spine, etc.) but also on other implantable medical devices. Objective: to design the most biocompatible, the most durable, the most functional prosthesis possible, and to facilitate the act of surgery so that it is as less traumatic as possible.
Cetim's biomechanics laboratory wishes to attract new partners and accelerate innovation and it is providing the means: thus 14 new hydraulic characterization machines on orthopedic implants, an EOS 290 machine for additive manufacturing, an Alicona machine for contactless dimensional measurement , a new part cleanliness analysis laboratory, and finally assembly characterization devices are added to the already existing equipment, for an investment of € 2.5 million in 2015.
Cetim is working on orthopedic implants or prostheses to restore deficient human functions, but also on innovative products such as Horuscare, the anti-obesity device intended to be implanted in the small intestine to limit the passage of nutrients into the blood. . Apart from medical devices, Cetim is also working on robotics for the medical sector, for example for surgical aid, patient handling, etc.
Implantable medical devices stand out from other mechanical products by a very high level of requirements in terms of functional biocompatibility and precision to ensure the patient's life and rapid recovery. Cetim is involved from the creation of the device to its launch on the market, supporting the manufacturer throughout the design and approval process. One last very important point in view of the pressure put on manufacturers to validate the risk rate. This approval, remaining long and difficult to obtain, partly slows down innovation: it takes around ten years from the creation of an implantable medical device to its launch on the market. Cetim therefore intervenes strongly in this last stage to present the most solid case possible.
More specifically, Cetim supports manufacturers on:
- The conception of new designs;
- Work on raw materials: the study of tribological (friction), mechanical properties, corrosion, wear between components of implants, the study of new materials such as composites;
- Surface engineering: coating and texturing of biocompatible surfaces;
- The study of longevity by modeling mechanical constraints (collaboration with the University of Southampton for the optimization of the design of implants by virtual implantation);
- The study of new production and shaping processes (additive manufacturing, innovative surface engineering processes);
- The development of cleaning processes compatible with sterilization requirements;
- The search for associated control systems such as tomography;
- The definition of testing means to ensure a post-production level of quality for qualification for approval (CE marking). Cetim is working in particular on multiphysics tests with the development of a programmable simulator to test new designs;
- Cetim also supports manufacturers during production monitoring, for example to improve the durability of implants and increase their performance.
Find out more: www.cetim.fr
