Medical applications of shape memory polymers.
Shape memory polymers (SMP) are lightweight, have a high strain/shape recovery ability, are easy to process, and required properties can be tailored for variety of applications. Recently a number of medical applications have been considered and investigated, especially for polyurethane-based SMP. SMP materials were found to be biocompatible, non-toxic and non-mutagenic. The glass transition temperature (T(g)) can be tailored for shape restoration/self-deployment of clinical devices when inserted in the human body. Newly developed SMP foams, together with cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) processing, further broaden their potential biomedical applications. Polyurethane-based SMP are described here and major advantages are identified over other medical materials. Some SMP applications are already used in a clinical setting, whereas others are still in development. Lately, several important applications are being considered for CHEM foams as self-deployable vascular and coronary devices. One example is the endovascular treatment of aneurysms.
Sokolowski
Witold
W
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA. Witold.M.Sokolowski@jpl.nasa.gov
Metcalfe
Annick
A
Hayashi
Shunichi
S
Yahia
L'Hocine
L
Raymond
Jean
J
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D008568:Memory; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers