Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To analyze metal materials, polymers, ceramics and carbon material-made artificial joints and explore advantages and disadvantages of each material, so as to provide new thoughts for developing novel lower limb prosthesis material and improving useful life in combination with bionics
METHODS: With “artificial joint, prosthesis metarial, bionics” as key words, a computer-based online search of Wanfang database (http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn/) was performed for experiments and clinical application of bionic artificial joint materials published between January 1993 and October 2009. Repetitive studies or Meta analysis were excluded. A total of 22 articles were included, and bionics principles of artificial joint, research status of artificial joint materials, as well as bionics and clinical application of artificial joint were discussed.
RESULTS: Metal materials, polymers, and ceramics have been clinically used for artificial joint materials. Novel materials with wear-resistance and atoxic effect, in particular compound coating materials and bionic cartilage materials, are beeing explored to accelerate development of prosthesis similar to human joint.  
CONCLUSION: Artificial joint bionics is a system engineering invovling multiple subjects and requires further research and development of artificial joint materials. In addition, based on structural and functional features, joint movement force following artificial joint replacment should be explored to reduce wearing speed. Individualized aritificial joint should be designed to better match patient body structure, joint appearance, size, functional features and physical capacity.