Ankem Invention Promoted by Office of Technology Commercialization

Professor Sreeremamurthy Ankem.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering professor Sreeremamurthy Ankem has developed a new implant fabrication technique that promotes a stronger implant/bone interface, resulting in an increase in the life of the implant and a reduction in costs and patient stress. Licensing opportunities are being offered by the university's Office of Technology Commercialization.

The surfaces of bone-implant joints are rough, which allows the patient's bone cells to attach to them more easily and create a bond between the bone and the artificial joint. Ankem's new fabrication method involves creating micropores in the rough surface of the implant, producing a much greater surface area in the same space for bone cells to attach to, and resulting in a stronger bond and an increased functional lifespan for the joint. The new method adds little cost to the manufacturing process and is extremely economical, when measured against the cost of additional surgeries. According to Ankem, his invention also has broader applications, and can be used to join any two surfaces with increased bond strength.

To date, a metal implant device surface has been fabricated with micropores with a categorized nano-roughness. A patent is pending.

Prospective commercial partners interested in licensing the technology may contact George Letscher (letscher@umd.edu) at the University of Maryland Office of Technology Commercialization or visit their web site at www.otc.umd.edu.

Published March 9, 2009