Thermal cycling can help with surgical tool durability

Holland Musculoskeletal Program research led by Cari Whyne, with investigators, Dr. Joel Finkelstein, Dr. Hans Kreder, Dr. Ryan Katchky, Stewart McLachlin and Edwin Wong shows the ability of thermal cycling to improve the performance of orthopaedic surgical instruments.

Thermal cycling involves cooling and then heating of materials until they undergo molecular reorganization. This reorganization “tightens” the particulate structure of the material throughout, to relieve stresses, reduce metal fatigue and help delay the forces of oxidation and chemical degradation.

The results of this work, done in collaboration with Thermal Technology Services Limited, a local company, are published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research.