Nitinol - Its use in vascular surgery and other applications

Objectives: to describe the physical properties of shape-memory alloys and the surgical, scientific and commercial applications of nitinol, in particu lar. Design and methods: a Medline, Internet and library search with contributio ns from commerce to describe the alloy's structure, behaviour and biocompat ibility, and design for devices constructed from nitinol. Results: nitinol has the properties of thermal shape memory and superelasti city that make it ideal for many vascular and general surgical prostheses a nd disposables, and for various commercial applications. Conclusions: further research into shape-memory alloys from scientific and commercial groups should widen their use in vascular and endovascular surge ry.