A coating technology expected to extend the life expectancy of artificial hip joints Kyocera's "Aquala®" patented technology received a Prize from the Minister of METI*1, Government of Japan during the National Invention Awards.
Kyocera's technology for medical implants
Fine ceramics and titanium alloys, with their properties of high compatibility in vivo, are used for artificial medical implants for hip joints and dental roots.
These implants are medical devices embedded in the human body to restore lost or impaired bodily functions such as the ability to walk or chew.
Based on its expertise in material technologies, Kyocera has been working in this field, not only to market medical implants, but also to develop new technologies through industry-academia-government collaborations in order to help realize its goal of contributing to a healthy and long-lived society.
“Aquala®” technology received a Prize from the Minister of METI*1, Government of Japan during the National Invention Awards
During the 2018 National Invention Awards held by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, our invention, Aquala coating technology (Japan Patent No. 4963838), developed in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, received a Prize from the Minister of METI*1, Government of Japan.
Aquala is a coating technology for an artificial hip joint’s acetabular liner that creates a cartilage-like surface structure in the joint by using a polymer that is highly biocompatible with the cells and tissues of the human body. With this technology, the life expectancy of artificial hip joints can be extended by reducing the incidence of wear particles that cause loosening of the artificial joint, which is currently a challenge in the prognosis management of total hip arthroplasty. Artificial hip joints based on this technology were approved for marketing by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on April 28, 2011 and have been used in more than 45,000 cases in Japan.
Encouraged by this award, Kyocera will continue to develop and bring to market new technologies to help realize a healthy and prosperous society through extensive application of our proprietary materials.
*1 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
