Wear of a total intervertebral disc prosthesis: Abrasion tests of a tribological system of total intervertebral disc prosthesis with dampening characteristics

In this study we characterized the wear behavior of a tribological system with material combinations of the total intervertebral disc prosthesis InDisc (Institute of Medical and Polymer Engineering) – consisting of two laser sintered titanium alloy plates with an elastomer inbetween. For the tests a translatory oscillation test bench was used which simulates the kinematic and the physiological environment of the lumbar spine. In the interface between the elastomer (Silopren LSR 2670) and the laser sintered titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) abrasion cords out of silicone rubber with a maximal area of 500 × 700 μm 2 were generated as well as individual particles with a size of 10 × 20 to 40 × 50 μm 2 . In the second prosthesis interface of Ti6Al4V and bone, bone particles with an area of 0.5 × 0.5 to 1 × 1 μm 2 were detected. The wear particles and the amount of wear volume influence the biological response of a total intervertebral disc prosthesis in the body.