20: Nitinol in Medical Devices: Shape Memory and Superelasticity (feat. Dr. Jerald Redmond)

Because of advances in medicine, life expectancy increased by 30 years on average over the last 70 years. As treatments get more complex and incisive, the materials we choose to put inside our bodies are very important in the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. Nitinol is one of those incredible materials. With its shape memory and superelasticity properties, it can be applied in as many places as our creativity goes! 

 

Before we introduce today’s guest, check out our free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers!

 

Today’s guest is Dr. Jerald Redmond, Sr. Engineering Program Manager at Medtronic Spine & Biologics. In this episode, he goes in-depth about the science behind Nitinol and its applications.

 

In this conversation, we discuss the following topics:

• Nitinol in cardiovascular stents (4:48)
• Shape memory and superelasticity (10:30)
• The history of Materials science and Nitinol (15:01)
• Principles of biocompatibility (20:54)
• Bone Staples (30:50)
• Challenges of Nitinol in future applications (39:24)

 

Reach out to Jerald Redmond: 

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerald-redmond-a5a756a/

 

Special thanks to this episode’s sponsor, Johnson Matthey! To check out their latest news, visit www.matthey.com.

 

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Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed by either guests or hosts in this show are their own, and do not represent the opinions of the companies or organizations for which they are affiliated.