Wolverine’s titanium bones are now real

Detailed picture of the “titanium foam” developed by Dr Peter Quadbeck’s team in Dresden, Germany. Picture: Fraunhofer IFAM Source: Supplied

Hugh Jackman in a scene from the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Picture: 20th Century Fox Source: Supplied

IT worked for Wolverine, but that was in comic books and movies.

Now a team from Germany state they really have found a way to infuse bones with titanium and create a metal skeleton.

Peter Quadbeck of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials Research in Dresden, Germany, states bones can be replaced with titanium implants.

That in itself is not entirely new. Titanium implants are regularly used to strengthen bones.

But the problem with those implants is that the bone eventually starts to rely on the titanium to bear the load, and deteriorates as a result.

The implants can also loosen and require maintenance, or damage the bone they are strapped to.

The answer, states Dr Quadbeck, is replacing bad bones altogether. He states the secret to doing it is in his team’s development of a “titanium foam”.

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The foam is made from polyurethane foam which is infused with titanium powder and binding agents.

When the polyurethane foam is dissolved, a titanium matrix remains, which is then hardened by heat.

The resulting titanium matrix can then — theoretically — replace a damaged bone. Remaining bone cells can be encouraged to grow in and around it.

While that might be great for deflecting blows from mutant adversaries, it’s also good news for anyone who’s struggled with bone disease or broken bones that fail to heal properly.

“The mechanical properties of titanium foams made this way closely approach those of the human bone,” stated Dr Quadbeck.

“This applies foremost to the balance between extreme durability and minimal rigidity.”

The invention is yet to be approved for use in humans.

More Source:

Doctors figure out how to make titanium bones | Information ...
In the Future, YOU can have WOLVERINE's Titanium Bones. | NO ...
Titanium foam builds Wolverine bones - health - 23 September 2010 ...
Adamantium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Submited at Saturday, September 25th, 2010 at 12:00 am on Technology by samantha
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