Orthopaedics is the largest single medical devices sector, with strong growth driven by significant technical progress and advantageous demographic trends – the majority of orthopaedic treatments are due to chronic effects exacerbated by age.
The sector is exploring a wide range of options for the next generations of devices, including general materials compatibility, the use of bioactive surface coatings, the therapeutic use of stem cells, bone substitutes, and topical drug release. The materials used in the devices will be key to addressing these areas.