Every TKA implant is composed of two bearing surfaces:
1. Polymeric tibial component
2. Hard femoral component.
Previous attempts to improve wear resistance only involved the polymeric tibial component, but both components affect the wear performance of the couple. Ceramics have shown superior wear in hips 25, and Smith & Nephew is the only company that can provide a ceramic bearing surface for TKA.
By improving both bearing components, we created a system-wide solution with industry-leading wear resistance. The result? VERILAST◊ Technology, the only advanced bearing couple for TKA, which features OXINIUM◊ Oxidized Zirconium femoral components used in conjunction with 7.5 Mrad highly crosslinked, re-melted UHMWPE tibial inserts.
VERILAST technology combines Cross Linked Polyethylene with our OXINIUM Technology which has been proven to be twice as hard as CoCr but 49 times more abrasive resistant than CoCr, which reduces wear in both pristine and roughened conditions.
Smith & Nephew XLPE for TKA is manufactured from compression molded GUR 1020, and is gamma - irradiated at 7.5Mrad and subsequently re-melted. It has been proven to balance significant wear reduction but also maintains mechanical properties. We have done this with our high flex designs, which minimize the potential for sheer forces.
For more detailed information, contact your local sales representative or call Customer Service at 1-800-238-7538.
*Based on in-vitro wear simulation testing, the LEGION◊ CR Primary Knee System with VERILAST technology is expected to provide wear performance sufficient for 30 years of actual use under typical conditions. The results of in-vitro wear simulation testing have not been proven to quantitatively predict clinical wear performance. Also, a reduction in total polyethylene wear volume or wear rate alone may not result in an improved clinical outcome as wear particle size and morphology are also critical factors in the evaluation of the potential for wear mediated osteolysis and associated aseptic implant loosening. Particle size and morphology were not evaluated as part of the testing.