FAQ

We have the broadest range of bioabsorbable and bioactive implants including screws, plates, pins, anchors, tacks and bone graft substitutes for Orthopaedics, Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Sports Medicine, Bone Grafting, Spinal Surgery and Dental applications. All of our bioabsorbable implants are made in Finland.
 
Inion bioabsorbable implants have an optimal bioabsorption profile and our materials are clinically proven with over 20 years of clinical use.
 
Inion has developed third-generation biodegradable implants made of Inion® biodegradable polymers. The Inion® biodegradable polymers have a carefully tailored strength/degradation profile.

More than 300 000 surgeries have been conducted using the Inion® implants since 2001. Our bioabsorbable implants offer a great biomechanical match with bone. There is no long-term implant palpability, visibility, or sensitivity. Inion® implants resorb in 2–4 years and compared to metal implants, they offer:
– Radiolucency, which means that there is clear visibility on X-ray, no scatter on MRI/CT
– Avoidance of removal surgery, which may result in reduced patient trauma and infection risk and reduced overall costs

Biodegradable implants can be used in different applications including orthopedics, sports medicine, cranio-maxillofacial surgery, bone grafting, spine surgery and dental surgery.

There are occasions when metal implants have to be removed, for example, due to palpability, patient sensitivity, imaging interference or infection. In addition, metal can be too stiff for optimal healing in some surgical applications. Stress shielding may result in bone atrophy and osteoporosis but a degrading polymer implant gradually loads the bone, therefore assisting in the healing process. Patients, when given a choice, usually voice a preference for a biodegradable implant rather than for one that remains permanently in their body, or for enduring a removal procedure.

Inion’s bioabsorbable implants (screws, plates, mesh plates, pins, tacks and anchors) are made of polymers. Polymers consist of many small repeating units called monomers. Polymers consisting of only one kind of repeating unit are called homopolymers, whereas copolymers are formed from two or more different repeating units.

Our bioabsorbable implants are made of Inion® family of Carefully blended copolymers consisting of L-lactic acid (PLLA), D, L-lactic acid (PLDLA), D-lactic acid, Glycolic acid (PGA) and Trimethylenecarbonate (TMC).

We also have Inion BioRestore™ in our product portfolio, which is a synthetic bioabsorbable bone filler made of bioactive glass fibers.

Water molecules begin to penetrate into the polymer after implantation. The implant is covered by a thin membrane, and after the bone has healed, the implant gradually loses strength and finally disappears from the body.

Bioabsorbable screws and plates degrade by hydrolysis and, over time, they are metabolized into carbon dioxide and water, which are exhaled and excreted from the body.

Inion® bioabsorbable implants resorb approximately in 2–4 years.

Inion® bioabsorbable implants have carefully tailored indication-optimized strength and degradation profiles. The implants are semi-rigid and they provide appropriate fixation stability to ensure bone healing. Additional immobilization might be required during the bone healing period depending on the indication.

Inion® bioabsorbable implants are manufactured in high-quality cleanrooms (ISO 7) in Tampere, Finland. The manufacturing process fulfills the requirements of the EU Medical Device Regulation, ISO 13485 standard and FDA Quality System Regulation. Product testing and material analysis are conducted at a state-of-the-art laboratory located in the Inion facility.

We have distributors in over 50 countries. Please contact us at info@inion.com if you want to be connected with a sales representative in your country. All of our distributors go through product training to ensure that all Inion partners and distributors have thorough knowledge about our products and their use. The main goal of distributor education is to ensure patient safety.

We have distributors in over 50 countries. Please contact us at info@inion.com if you want to be connected with a sales representative in your country.

We are happy to collaborate with researchers, surgeons and universities. Please contact us at info@inion.com if you are interested in scientific collaboration. You can find the list of publications related to Inion® products on our Clinical Evidence page.

We advertise vacancies on our webpage and LinkedIn Page. You can also find our current and previous open positions on our Careers page. Open applications and inquiries can be sent to info@inion.com.