Materials Scientists examine implants made of
nickel-titanium alloy in a long-term study
A trousers button, a coin or a watch can be dangerous for
people with a nickel allergy. Approximately 1 in 10 Germans is allergic to the
metal. "This raises the question of the safety of medical implants
containing nickel," explains Professor Dr. Markus Rettenmayr of the
Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany). Nickel-titanium alloys are
increasingly used as material for cardiovascular implants in minimal invasive
surgery. Once implanted, nickel-titanium alloys can release small amounts of
nickel due to corrosion phenomena, the holder of the Chair of Metallic
Materials explains. Our concern was that this could - in particular over a long
period of time - lead to a nickel contamination in the patient's body that
possibly results in health problems.