Biocompatibility studies on surgical-grade titanium-, cobalt-, and iron-base alloys

An animal model system for the investigation of the influence of in vivo-produced metallic corrosion products upon tissues has been developed. Externally applied electrical stimulation produces the corrosion over a short period of time, and a poststimulation period is allowed for tissue stabilization. Tissue reaction adjacent to the metallic alloys shows fibrous tissue capsules and metallic corrosion product contamination. These preliminary studies show that this animal model and methodology may provide a technique for investigating long-term tissue biomaterial interactions and the influence of iron (316L), cobalt (Vitallium), and titanium (Tivanium) alloy corrosion products upon the susceptibility of tissues to various biocompatibility challenges.