Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a synthetic polymer with suitable biomechanical and stable chemical properties, which make it attractive for use as an endoprothetic material and for ligamentous replacement. However, chemical surface inertness does not account for a good interfacial biocompatibility, and PEEK requires a surface modification prior to its application in vivo. In the course of this ...

PURPOSE To compare radiographic and clinical outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy in patients with cervical degenerative disc disease using PEEK cages or PMMA spacers with a minimum 1-year follow-up. METHODS Anterior cervical discectomy was performed in 107 patients in one or two levels using empty PEEK cages (51 levels), Sulcem PMMA spacers (49 levels) or Palacos PMMA spacers (41 leve...

The fatigue behavior of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) thermoplastic was investigated under uniaxial strain-controlled cyclic loading condition with various mean strains (Rε 1⁄4 0, 0.2, and 0.25). The mean stress responses of PEEK from all mean strain fatigue tests were found to be fully-relaxed. As a result, minimum mean strain effect on fatigue behavior of PEEK was observed. Fractography analy...

STUDY DESIGN An in vitro study examining factors produced by human mesenchymal stem cells on spine implant materials. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine whether the inflammatory microenvironment generated by cells on titanium-aluminum-vanadium (Ti-alloy, TiAlV) surfaces is affected by surface microtexture and whether it differs from that generated on poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK)...

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is now attracting attention as an alternative to metal alloys in the dental field. In the present study, we evaluated the load-deflection characteristics of PEEK wires in addition to their frictional properties. Three types of PEEK wires are used: two sizes of rectangular shape, 0.016 × 0.022 in² and 0.019 × 0.025 in² (19-25PEEK), and rounded shape, diameter 0.016 in...

This study was to investigate the nanomechanical and nanotribological properties of polyether ether ketone (PEEK)-based composites for biomedical applications and to gain a fundamental understanding of the effects of carbon fibers in carbon-fiber-reinforced PEEK (CFRPEEK) on the mechanical properties and wear performance in a microscale. Nanoindentation tests with a Berkovich indenter and nanos...

BACKGROUND There is active debate amongst surgeons regarding best available method for cervical inter-body fusion. This study evaluates success of disc replacement with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage in patients operated for cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy. METHODS This case series was conducted between 2008 and 2012 during which 151 patients were treated with cervical inter-body fusio...

The reliable assembly of poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) and carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) is crucial to effective load transfer within lightweight high-stiffness structures, which are commonly demanded in aeronautical, automobile, medical industries. In this work, laser transmission welding CFR-PEEK has been performed by using a 1070 nm Nd:YAG fiber laser. effects process parameters i...

Radiation therapy, in conjunction with surgical implant fixation, is a common combined treatment in cases of bone metastases. However, metal implants generally used in orthopedic implants perturb radiation dose distributions. Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) material has been recently introduced for production of intramedullary nails and plates. The purpose of this work w...

Bioactivity and biocompatibility are crucial for tissue engineering scaffolds. In this study, hydroxyapatite (HAP) was incorporated into polyetheretherketone/polyglycolicacid (PEEK/PGA) hybrid to improve its biological properties, and the composite scaffolds were developed via selective laser sintering (SLS). The effects of HAP on physical and chemical properties of the composite scaffolds were...