Blue Oxide – Next Generation Surface Finish II

The surface condition plays a key role in the biocompatibility as well as fatigue of implantable medical devices. Especially Nitinol devices do show an enhanced biocompatibility for surface layers with smoother surface, dense oxide layer and absence of defects or inhomogeneities.

To reach layers with superior properties the implant surface can be improved applying different techniques such as passivation, electropolishing and nonmetallic coatings. In addition to the industry standard surface improvements new innovative techniques were recently developed. The Blue Oxide surface finishing, which was promoted in 2015, is one of these applied techniques.

With this study a subsequent characterization of the new Blue Oxide surface layer is performed by completing additional testing such as 3D-Focused Ion-Beam microscope analysis of subsurface defects, in-situ mechano-electrochemical testing of surface reactions and  SIMS analysis of subsurface chemistry. Braided neurovascular devices are used for the 3D-Focused Ion-Beam studies and straight annealed wires with different states of surface finishing (native oxide, electropolished, Blue Oxide) for the in-situ mechano-electrochemical testing.

In addition an update on neurovascular clinical data of the first medical application of Blue Oxide will be shown as well to confirm its outstanding functionality.