Extending the Service Life of Joint Prostheses with PEEK Biomaterials

High-performance polymer VESTAKEEP® PEEK, a proven implant material for medical technology, is being explored as a material for complex joint prosthesis systems. Evonik, a specialty chemicals company based in Germany, is drawing on the expertise of medical specialists at the world-recognized Center for Knee and Hip Replacement at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston (USA). If the innovation succeeds, the service life of VESTAKEEP-based joint prostheses could be significantly extended, consequently reducing revision surgery or years of pain therapy. The success of PEEK-based hip prostheses for use in veterinary medicine from the Swiss company KYON supported Evonik’s innovation approach.