BIOABSORBABLE TECHNOLOGY
How Bioabsorbable Screws Work
The screw that disappears when its job is done
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THE PROBLEM
What conventional metallic screws can't do
Conventional orthopaedic screws are made from stainless steel or titanium. They are strong, proven, and effective at holding bone fragments together during healing. But they come with well-documented drawbacks:
Pinching effect
Metallic screws can irritate surrounding soft tissue, causing pain and discomfort long after the fracture has healed.
Stress shielding
The rigid metal takes on mechanical load that the healing bone should be bearing, potentially weakening the bone over time.
Revision surgery
In many cases, a second surgery is needed to remove the metallic hardware — adding cost, risk, and recovery time.
Imaging interference
Metal implants create artifacts in CT and MRI scans, complicating post-operative monitoring.
India alone records over 1.1 lakh revision surgeries annually — each one a patient who undergoes anaesthesia, incision, and recovery a second time for an implant that has already served its purpose.
THE SOLUTION
The FlexiScrew — a fundamentally different approach
The FlexiScrew is a multi-material orthopaedic screw jointly developed by IIT Delhi and AIIMS New Delhi. It addresses every limitation of conventional metallic screws through a fundamentally different material architecture.
Bioresorbable outer shell
The external structure of the screw is made from a bioresorbable polymer that provides initial fixation strength comparable to cortical bone. Over months, as the fracture heals, this shell is gradually absorbed by the body through natural metabolic processes.
Bio-inert inner rod
The core of the screw is a bio-inert material that maintains structural integrity during the critical healing window and is safely tolerated by the body long-term.
Curved geometry
Unlike straight metallic screws, FlexiScrews are available in curved configurations that follow natural bone contours — critical in anatomical regions where straight screws cannot achieve optimal bone purchase.
KEY ADVANTAGES
FlexiScrew vs conventional implants
| Feature | FlexiScrew advantage |
|---|---|
| No pinching effect | Long-term safety with no soft tissue irritation upon implantation |
| Cortical bone strength | Strength and durability similar to cortical bone during the healing period |
| Bioresorbable | Outer shell absorbs naturally; bio-inert inner rod remains safely in place |
| No revision surgery | Eliminates the need for a second surgery to remove hardware |
| Curved design | C-shaped (~56°) and S-shaped (~27°+31°) follow bone anatomy |
| MRI compatible | No metal artifacts in post-operative imaging |
MANUFACTURING
How it is made
The FlexiScrew is manufactured using specialised polymer processing techniques under controlled cleanroom conditions. Each screw undergoes a battery of mechanical tests (insertion torque, pull-out force, 3-point bending) and biocompatibility testing (ISO 10993) before release.
The technology was developed at mPragati, a national facility under the Prime Minister's Ayushmann Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, located at the IIT Delhi main campus. It is being commercialised through Anatomica Implants under a technology transfer agreement facilitated by FITT (Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer).