title: Manufacturing of monolithic superelastic rods with variable properties for spinal correction: feasibility study.
abstract: A new concept of monolithic spinal rod with variable flexural stiffness is proposed to reduce the risk of adjacent segment degeneration and fracture associated with rigid spinal fixation techniques while providing adequate stability to the spine. The concept is based on the use of Ti-Ni shape memory alloy rods subjected to different processing schedules implying local annealing, cold work, or a combination of both. A feasibility study of the concurrent technological routes is performed by comparing their potential to locally control material microstructure and properties.
authors.affiliation: École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 1K3.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Facchinello
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brailovski
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inaekyan
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mac-Thiong
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008422:Materials Testing; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium