Infections associated with medical prostheses result in notable morbidity, and traditional osteomyelitis treatments are often accompanied by high risk and cost. The probability of prosthetic joint infections is 1–2.5 % for primary hip or knee replacements and 2.1–5.8 % for revision surgeries, and the cost of treating such an infection is estimated to be over $50,000 per episode. [1] While the potential benefits of silver surfaces stimulated by low intensity direct current (LIDC) have been discussed in literature, we have recently utilized that concept in the actual design of prophylactic indwelling residual hardware prostheses for the very first time. [2–4] A modular titanium hip stem coated with silver at the anode (and titanium as the cathode) and activated by a watch battery encapsulated within the two electrode modules (Figure 1) will result in oligodynamic iontophoresis (OI) in the soft tissue surrounding the implant which is prone to infections. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo results have demonstrated the potency of silver-based OI as an effective local antibacterial therapy in osteomyelitis treatment with advantages over various antibiotics. However, the main challenge here is achieving the antibacterial potency while minimizing any potential toxic effects on local tissues. [4]
- Bioengineering Division
Determining Optimal Current Intensity and Duration for Electrically Activated Silver-Based Prophylactic Hip Implant Prototype Design
Tan, Z, Shirwaiker, RA, & Orndoff, PE. "Determining Optimal Current Intensity and Duration for Electrically Activated Silver-Based Prophylactic Hip Implant Prototype Design." Proceedings of the ASME 2013 Summer Bioengineering Conference. Volume 1B: Extremity; Fluid Mechanics; Gait; Growth, Remodeling, and Repair; Heart Valves; Injury Biomechanics; Mechanotransduction and Sub-Cellular Biophysics; MultiScale Biotransport; Muscle, Tendon and Ligament; Musculoskeletal Devices; Multiscale Mechanics; Thermal Medicine; Ocular Biomechanics; Pediatric Hemodynamics; Pericellular Phenomena; Tissue Mechanics; Biotransport Design and Devices; Spine; Stent Device Hemodynamics; Vascular Solid Mechanics; Student Paper and Design Competitions. Sunriver, Oregon, USA. June 26–29, 2013. V01BT26A001. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/SBC2013-14141
Download citation file: