Coating powders & coating services
Cam Bioceramics produces and sells calcium phosphate coating powders but also preforms coating services for its customers. Applying hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings via plasma spray technology is an important part of Cam's activities.
We were the first company worldwide to offer hydroxyapatite coatings and have been at the forefront of high quality coating technology ever since. With our extensive scientific background we thoroughly examine our client's products and offer custom-made solutions. Our coating powders are the purest in the industry and, as a result, Cam has become a worldwide leader in bioceramic powders and coating services for the orthopaedic, spinal and dental markets.
All our coatings result in:
- Excellent biocompatibility
- Calcium and phosphate ion release
- Bone bonding
- Bone deposition on the implant surface
- Presence of more supporting bone
Hydroxyapatite is the major component of the mineral phase of bone. HA coatings have shown an excellent biocompability with bone. No adverse reactions and no tendency of the body to wall-off HA surfaces with fibrous encapsulation have been reported. As such, it is recognized by the body as bone and is excellent for implantation in bony sites.
Calcium and phosphate ion release
Effective HA coatings, when implanted, degrade slowly and release calcium and phosphate ions. These ions are the raw materials from which the mineral phase of bone is constructed. Calcium and phosphate ions can reprecipitate as natural carbonated apatite onto the coating surface. The natural-apatite layer allows osteoblasts to quickly anchor themselves onto the implant surface, even in the presence of micromotion and gaps.
Because bone cells can remodel the HA coating, the implant becomes well fixed during the healing process. At Cam, we believe that coatings that degrade too quickly, leading to an unstable substrate, or that do not degrade at all, with the consequential lack of bone remodeling, are not effective coatings. The effect of optimal fixation in the medium to long-term is that bone "spot welds'' to the non-coated area of the implant. This proves that the critical period for the success of an HA coated implant is the healing phase, after which no negative effect on the long-term result may be expected from any remodeling (degradation) of the HA coating. No implant loosening has been reported with our coating powder.
Bone bonding
The percipitated natural-apatite layer forms a chemical bond with the implant surface and the surrounding bone. This process is called 'bonding osteogenesis'. The bond is further strengthened by osteocytes forming a new cement layer, in which type 1 (bone) collagen fibers are incorporated. At the bone implant interface, the transition from bone to implant cannot be detected, which contributes to an optimal implant fixation.
Bone deposition on the implant surface
Osteoblasts deposit bone onto the surface of the HA coating. Bone begins to grow from the implant surface outward and not just from the existing bone to the implant. This reduces healing time and prevents the formation of an intervening fibrous-tissue layer. As a consequence of this mechanism, bone can bridge gaps of at least 1 mm which further enhances the implant fixation.
Presence of more supporting bone
Because of the tendency of bone to grow on and bond to an HA surface, supporting bone is formed faster and is in direct contact with the HA coated implants. Consequently, stresses are transferred in a more physiological way, thereby preventing critical bone loss and stimulating bone remodeling (Wolff's Law). Because the coated area of the implant is so well fixed, the area of the implant in direct contact with the bone expands over the non-coated area, thereby increasing the area of supporting bone, a situation sought by every orthopaedic surgeon.