Our Nitinol Technology

Nitinol is an alloy comprised of approximately 50% nickel and 50% titanium. It can exist in two phases, or states: martensite and austenite. These phases are similar to the phases in which other substances can exist (in the case of water, for instance, liquid and solid ice). Nitinol’s martensitic phase is associated with lower temperatures and a molecular arrangement that allows the metal to be softer and more malleable. Its austenitic phase is associated with higher temperatures and a cubic, more stable and rigid molecular arrangement.

Though a manufacturing process, Nitinol can be programmed to transform from martensite to austenite at a designated temperature range. Heating Nitinol into this transformation temperature range causes it to change from a softer metal to a stronger metal.

In addition to change in the molecular arrangement, Nitinol also possesses two characteristics that are displayed as the material is heated through its transformation temperature range: shape recovery (or shape memory) and superelasticity. Shape recovery occurs when a Nitinol device is heated though its transformation temperature and returns to a predetermined shape. Superelasticity refers to the characteristic of the metal to store heat energy and use that energy to exhibit a spring-like behavior.

Our Uses

BME takes full advantage of its manufacturing capabilities to provide surgeons with shape memory implants that are programmed with different transformation temperatures.  Our patented Controlled Heat-Activated implants transform above body temperature to so that the surgeon can vary the amount of compressive force achieved. Our Body Temperature-Activated implants change shape to lock bones together when warmed by body heat alone. Finally, our Superelastic devices are fully transformed at room temperature and ready to compress when deployed.

Continuous Compression™ Technology

All of BME’s shape memory implants have the ability to act like springs.  Unlike screws, staples and plates made of stainless steel or titanium, our implants can self-adjust over time, maintaining and compressing bones together and diminishing the negative effects of bone resorption encountered during healing.  This unique ability of Nitinol internal fixation devices to continuously compress bones together over time has formed the foundation of BME’s innovative activities for over a decade. 

Controllable Compression™ Technology

BME has the only Nitinol implants on the market where the surgeon can control the amount of compression achieved.  The patented OSSforce™ Implant Controller allows the surgeon to adjust the amount of compressive force our Controlled Heat-Activated implants exert, making this Nitinol fixation system the only one suitable for cases involving questionable bone quality.