MISiS: Titanium-nickel implant for dogs of the Mops breed suffering from laryngeal collapse

2021: Titanium-nickel implant announcement

On May 12, 2021, it became known that young scientists at NITU MISiS, together with MIP Biomimetix, operating on the basis of the university, developed a titanium-nickel implant that allows surgical treatment of animals suffering from laryngeal collapse. The first operations with the use of implants have already been carried out on dogs of the Mops breed in one of the Moscow veterinary clinics.

Pug

As reported, titanium nickelide products with a nickel content, having a shape memory effect, have long been used in medicine as various kinds of manipulators, implants, stents, etc. Modern medicine focuses on avoiding traditional surgical operations to non-traumatic minimally invasive interventions, so the use of this titanium alloy opens up opportunities for treatment.

In NITU "MISiS" an alloy of titanium nickelide was used to solve the applied problem - the development of implants for dogs of the Mops breed suffering from laryngeal collapse. This characteristic pathology is due to degeneration and "narrowing" of the cartilage larynx, which leads to obstruction (obstruction and interference) of the upper respiratory tract and, ultimately, to asphyxiation and death of the animal.

Shape Memory Stent Options for Laryngeal Collapse Dogs

The development was carried out on the initiative of the experimental therapy clinic of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "N.N. Blokhin Oncology Research Center" of the Ministry of Health of Russia together with the Biomimetix MIP, operating on the basis of the MISiS Research Institute, with strict consideration of the medical and technical requirements formulated by the operating surgeons of the wind clinic.

The prototype implant is a support frame in the form of an elliptical cylinder made of a perforated tape of titanium nickelide, and triggered on the basis of the shape memory effect in the temperature range 38 − 45 ° C when in contact with a heated tampon. The implant installed in the larynx maintains the larynx cartilage in the optimal position, preventing closure of the airways and returning to the patient the possibility of natural breathing. said Damir Ashimbayev, one of the authors of the work, master of the department "Metal Forming" NITU "MISiS"

Co-author Damir Ashimbayev

2.5 months after implant installation, tissue germination is observed through perforations and its full integration into patient's larynx.

The implant is installed in a severe form of the disease. Previously, the only method of its treatment, when the patient no longer responds to oxygen mask therapy, was the imposition of tracheostoma. A stoma tube is placed in the trachea through the skin in the neck. The stoma itself requires maintaining constant hygiene, cleaning from mucus, wool, otherwise its blockage will occur. explained Damir Ashimbayev

Veterinarians decided to find a different method of treatment, since dogs after tracheostomy can breathe only through the tube. They made a number of attempts to manufacture implants that did not give the necessary result, after which materials scientists of NITU MISiS were involved. As a result, a technology for producing an implant in a given size range was developed, a small series was made and their heat treatment modes were worked out.

As a result of the installation of implants, two patients proved the effectiveness of its use in clinical practice. As of May 2021, developers are looking for a more technological design of the implant in order to reduce its cost, as well as developing the technology of coating the device with a porous polymer to optimize the integration of the implant.