TABLE OF CONTENTS So far in this book I have concentrated on two main themes:
The development of modern surgical techniques and medical procedures
The properties of materials, especially plastics, and their ability to provide a solution to a tremendous range of medical problems
We have seen how the development of new and more sophisticated materials and engineering systems have made it possible for the surgeon to become more adventurous in operating on different parts of the body. At the same time the use of microsurgical and minimally invasive procedures allow advanced surgery to be carried out with less trauma to the patient, requiring shorter periods in hospital (or even day-care treatment), with consequent cost savings, and more rapid recovery times.
The creation of implantable materials which are more resistant to mechanical wear, eg ultra high density polyethylenes, and ceramics for joint replacements, high strength, lightweight materials for limb prostheses, and above all materials which remain functional in the hostile environment of the human body, have extended the surgeon's capabilities.
In metals, scientists and engineers at the University of Dundee, Scotland, are working on alloys which can adopt different shapes, depending on their temperature (1). One device that appears to show promise, is a suture, which looks like an office staple, and which can be made to close when heated by the passage of an electric current. This device is particularly usefd in "keyhole" surgery, where delicate manipulations are essential, and where the recovery of the patient is achieved with minimal trauma.
Before...
