About Nitinol

In order to facilitate the healing process and achieve the goals of compression anastomosis, the
rate of compression must be controlled. This approach may be better executed with the use of
.memory shape alloys such as Nitinol

Nitinol is a metal alloy that contains a nearly equal mixture of Nickel and Titanium. Nitinol has
unique features which makes it most appropriate for use in biomedical applications in general
and in BioDynamix™ Anastomosis technology in particular. The three most prominent properties
:that describe the behavior of the material are

Superelasticity - Nitinol can recover its strain on the order of 8% whereas the•
best regular spring alloy recovers only 0.4% strain. This high degree of elasticity is
.also called Superelasticity

Shape Memory - The ability of the material to "memorize" its pre-deformed shape••
is called Shape Memory. Nitinol is termed a thermal shape memory alloy because it
expands and flexes when cooled, but resumes its shape and size when it returns to its
.normal temperature

Constancy of Stresses - Constant Stress between 1%-6% of Strain is•

.called Constancy of Stresses

Stress (Force) vs. Strain (Extension) for Nitinol and for stainless steel
(click on image to enlarge )
Because of its powerful and unique qualities, Nitinol has been used in many biomedical
applications where constancy of shape and stress are essential, including permanent implants,
.stents, blood filters, bone staples and needles

.Devices made from nitinol apply a constant stress over a wide range of shapes and strains

.Nitinol is biocompatible

.Nitinol is more stable and less subject to corrosion than other materials such as stainless steel

Nitinol is biomechanically compatible. Its mechanical properties are similar to those observed in
.various body tissues. Nitinol is more flexible than steel
(Use of Nitinol unique properties in the ColonRing™ (CAR™ 27 ring
(click on image to enlarge )