ASTM F3160-16 - 1.4.2016
 
Significance and Use

5.1 The metallurgical properties of materials used to manufacture absorbable metallic implants can influence biological reactions and mechanical interaction with soft and hard tissue in the body. This standard guide describes a suggested material characterization scheme for absorbable metallic materials to ensure reproducibility of properties prior to their manufacture into medical implants.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This guidance document provides metallurgical characterization information that may be beneficial in the evaluation of absorbable metallic materials intended for medical implant applications. This guide is primarily intended for absorbable metallic materials that undergo further processing into a fabricated final device. Therefore, this standard does not require assessments that are more appropriately conducted on the final device, such as biological evaluation. However, a few relevant standards for finished implant devices are included for information purposes.

1.2 The purpose of this guide is to identify appropriate test methods and relevant medical product standards that can be used to develop future standards for new or modified absorbable metallic materials.

1.3 This guide is not intended to cover other major classes of absorbable materials such as polymers, ceramics, composites, and tissue-engineered materials.

1.4 This standard guide is focused on the chemical, physical, microstructural, and mechanical properties plus inspection guidelines for metallic materials that are used for medical implants designed to be absorbed in the body over a period of time. This guide focuses on material characterizations and does not address device specific mechanical testing that may be necessary to determine safety and functionality of the implant.

1.5 Compliance with materials specifications developed in accordance with this standard may not necessarily result in a material suitable for its intended purpose. Additional testing specific to the intended use may be required.

1.6 Since surface modifications of medical implants are generally applied in the latter stages of manufacturing, this standard guide does not cover the characterization of either absorbable or non-absorbable surface coatings that are metallic in origin such as oxides or from the addition of other materials such as ceramics or polymers. However, this standard does apply to absorbable metallic materials, regardless of the presence or absence of a coating.

1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

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Standard Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size Using Semiautomatic and Automatic Image Analysis

B69-21

Standard Specification for Rolled Zinc

F2213-17

Standard Test Method for Measurement of Magnetically Induced Torque on Medical Devices in the Magnetic Resonance Environment

E8/E8M-24

Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

E29-22

Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications

E18-22

Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials

E45-18a(2023)

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E112-13(2021)

Standard Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size

E290-22

Standard Test Methods for Bend Testing of Material for Ductility

E340-23

Standard Practice for Macroetching Metals and Alloys

E354-21e1

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E1441-19

Standard Guide for Computed Tomography (CT)

E2627-13(2019)

Standard Practice for Determining Average Grain Size Using Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) in Fully Recrystallized Polycrystalline Materials

F601-23

Standard Practice for Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection of Metallic Surgical Implants

F629-20

Standard Practice for Radiography of Cast Metallic Surgical Implants

F2052-21

Standard Test Method for Measurement of Magnetically Induced Displacement Force on Medical Devices in the Magnetic Resonance Environment

AMS 2632

Ultrasonic Inspection of Thin Materials

D3648-23

Standard Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity

E384-22

Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials

A342/A342M-21

Standard Test Methods for Permeability of Weakly Magnetic Materials

A480/A480M-23b

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A484/A484M-24

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A555/A555M-23

Standard Specification for General Requirements for Stainless Steel Wire and Wire Rods

A751-21

Standard Test Methods and Practices for Chemical Analysis of Steel Products

A957-05

Standard Specification for Investment Castings, Steel and Alloy, Common Requirements, for General Industrial Use

B90/B90M-21

Standard Specification for Magnesium-Alloy Sheet and Plate

B80-23

Standard Specification for Magnesium-Alloy Sand Castings

B107/B107M-13(2021)

Standard Specification for Magnesium-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Profiles, Tubes, and Wire

B199-17

Standard Specification for Magnesium-Alloy Permanent Mold Castings

B403-20

Standard Specification for Magnesium-Alloy Investment Castings

B86-23

Standard Specification for Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum (ZA) Alloy Foundry and Die Castings

B661-12(2020)

Standard Practice for Heat Treatment of Magnesium Alloys

B949-23

Standard Specification for General Requirements for Zinc and Zinc Alloy Products

B953-21

Standard Practice for Sampling Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys for Spectrochemical Analysis

B954-23

Standard Test Method for Analysis of Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys by Atomic Emission Spectrometry

B557M-15(2023)

Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing Wrought and Cast Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products (Metric)

F2119-07

Standard Test Method for Evaluation of MR Image Artifacts from Passive Implants

F2182-19e2

Standard Test Method for Measurement of Radio Frequency Induced Heating On or Near Passive Implants During Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Includes all amendments and changes 4/7/2020).

F2229-21

Standard Specification for Wrought, Nitrogen Strengthened 23Manganese-21Chromium-1Molybdenum Low-Nickel Stainless Steel Alloy Bar and Wire for Surgical Implants (UNS S29108)

F2393-12(2020)

Standard Specification for High-Purity Dense Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia (Mg-PSZ) for Surgical Implant Applications

F2581-12(2017)

Standard Specification for Wrought Nitrogen Strengthened 11Manganese-17Chromium-3Molybdenum Low-Nickel Stainless Steel Alloy Bar and Wire for Surgical Implants (UNS S29225)

F2902-16e1

Standard Guide for Assessment of Absorbable Polymeric Implants (Includes all amendments and changes 6/8/2017).

IEEE/ASTM SI 10

American National Standard for Metric Practice

AMS 2248

Chemical Check Analysis Limits Corrosion and Heat Resistant Steels and Alloys, Maraging and Other Highly-Alloyed Steels, and Iron Alloys

E1245-03(2023)

Standard Practice for Determining the Inclusion or Second-Phase Constituent Content of Metals by Automatic Image Analysis

E536-23

Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc Alloys

E407-23

Standard Practice for Microetching Metals and Alloys

AMS 2630

Inspection, Ultrasonic Product Over 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) Thick

A262-15(2021)

Standard Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranular Attack in Austenitic Stainless Steels