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Nowadays, all heart valves are made in Pyrocarbon.
To date, more than 2 millions of patients have received such valves, which allow demonstrating the properties of Pyrocarbon since its 1st implantation in 1968 :
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Excellent biocompatibility
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Wear and fatigue resistance in long term |
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In orthopaedic surgery, and especially in upper limb surgery, the experience that has been growing for several years on joint implants has shown the absence of wear particles after an implantation of more than 10 years.
Pyrocarbon is absolutely not similar to carbon fibres and to the other materials of this kind that have been used without any success in the past.
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| The main properties of this exceptional material are following : |
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Excellent Biocompatibility demonstrated by its use :
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since more than 30 years in heart valves (PyC/PyC couple in contact with blood) |
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since more than 20 years in MCP finger joint implants (PyC/PyC couple in contact with bone and surrounding tissues) |
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since more than 10 years in partial scaphoid implants (PyC / bone and cartilage couple).
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Extremely low friction coefficient, especially against bone (and cartilage), that explains
the absence of wear and inflammation.
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Modulus of elasticity similar to that of the bone, generating an excellent transmission of the constraints between bone and implant and thus no pain. |
