Nitinol is unique! We unleash the potential of the intelligent properties and open up a wide range of new possibilities for your ambitious applications. Robotics, imaging, smart implants – shaping the future together!
Knowledge
The shape memory alloy is named after its place of discovery, the research facility: Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory. When the material is deformed in a cool state, it returns to its original shape after heating.
The distinctive feature of nitinol is characterized by this reversible solid phase change, known as martensitic transformation. The alloy material forms a crystalline structure capable of changing from one form to another. Temperature change and/or strain induce this transformation.
Above its transformation temperature, nitinol is superelastic and thus can resist some degree of deformation when a load is applied. Once the load is removed, it returns to its original shape. Below its transformation temperature, Nitinol is subject to the thermal shape memory effect. After deformation, it will remain in this state until it is heated above the transformation temperature so that it returns to its original shape.
THERMAL SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT
Nitinol returns to its original shape, which means that surgeons can deform an instrument to fit the patient’s anatomy. After steam sterilization, it returns to its original shape (thermal shape memory effect). Examples of this application are dilators and suction cannulas.
THERMAL SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT
Nitinol returns to its original shape, which means that surgeons can deform an instrument to fit the patient’s anatomy. After steam sterilization, it returns to its original shape (thermal shape memory effect). Examples of this application are dilators and suction cannulas.
SUPERELASTIC
Nitinol is superelastic, allowing the material to be bent up to 10 times more than stainless steel. Thin wires and tubes made of Nitinol are routed through multiple tortuous paths in the body and still remain controllable. Superelasticity allows instruments and components to maintain a wide variety of shapes even under tension.
EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE
Nitinol is kink-resistant and flexible, making it suitable for use in endoluminal instruments such as retrieval baskets. The baskets are extremely flexible. They allow easy access combined with high kink resistance, high set-up force and 1-to-1 motion transmission.
EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE
Nitinol is kink-resistant and flexible, making it suitable for use in endoluminal instruments such as retrieval baskets. The baskets are extremely flexible. They allow easy access combined with high kink resistance, high set-up force and 1-to-1 motion transmission.
BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Nitinol’s biomechanical properties are similar to biological material from a mechanical point of view. This makes it particularly suitable for use in implants. Materials such as stainless steel or titanium are very stiff and hardly elastic, so they do not yield even under pressure from surrounding tissue. Nitinol, on the other hand, with its biomechanical properties like human tissue, allows repeatable alternating stresses.
IMAGING METHODS
Nitinol is non-ferromagnetic with a lower magnetic susceptibility than stainless steel and thus a much higher suitability for all imaging techniques.
IMAGING METHODS
Nitinol is non-ferromagnetic with a lower magnetic susceptibility than stainless steel and thus a much higher suitability for all imaging techniques.
Get in Touch
Alleima Karlsruhe GmbH
Wilhelm-Schickard-Str. 9c
76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
info.ka@alleima.com
+49 721 957 967 000
