June 15th, 2003
Improvements in Replacement Parts
From the BBC, news of an incremental but important improvement in the materials used to construct artificial knee joints. While it might seem prosaic in this age of biotech wonders just around the corner, artificial replacement surgeries (knees, hips, and so forth) are commonplace and very useful. As materials science advances, we can expect to see more intricate and useful devices. Eventually, this branch of medicine will merge with biotech; providing scaffolding to grow new organs, for example. This is in the early stages right now for bone and liver replacement. Medical progress is an amazing thing!