Looming Tantalum Shortage May Impact Orthopedic Devices
BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009
A new report from Roskill Information Services predicts a worldwide shortage of tantalum, a porous metal used in coating orthopedic devices. Tantalum has been demonstrated to facilitate a bond between an implant and the surrounding bone, with additional benefits including higher-volume porosity, more freely communicating pores, a higher coefficient of friction against bone and a lower bulk stiffness compared to other porous coatings.
Tantalum has applications not just for medical devices, but consumer electronics, the military and aviation as well. Production in many of these industries has been suppressed recently on account of the economy, and combined with the increased mining of cheaper metals, demand for tantalum has slowed. This led to approximately 40% of the tantalum mining industry halting production late last year, and while it is unknown whether these companies will resume production, there is an existing stockpile of the metal.
Though Roskill notes the global supply of tantalum is stable "for the time being," orthopedic manufacturers may be affected if supply dwindles and prices rise. Zimmer is one company that may be impacted by a shortage, as they rely on tantalum for their Trabecular Metal. Alternative metals, such as titanium, may prove more readily available.
