Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
inorganic as well as organic, can be tailored for nearly optimal performance. Three
progress steps to be expected in the next decade are:
-
Personalized shape optimization (stress distribution, space filling, . . . .) exclu-
sively made possible by the new forming technologies.
-
The creation of interfaces with active physiological properties (anti-bacterial,
osteoinduction and other stimulation effects).
-
Increasing importance of tissue engineering (see Chap.
13
).
For 'heavy duty' implants for hip and knee we expect that customized or person-
alized prostheses will offer the most direct and substantial advantages in the next
decade. . . dare we say more than from surface engineering?
