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Crossfire Polyethylene

Material Properties

Material properties such as yield strength, modulus (stiffness) and crystallinity contribute to the strength and durability of UHMWPE. With almost 30 years of clinical experience, material property norms are well established for gamma-sterilized polyethylene. These material properties are designed to be preserved in Crossfire Polyethylene1.

Melt-irradiated polyethylene, developed by William Harris, MD and MIT, demonstrates significant changes in these material properties, which may compromise clinical performance.

  • Hylamer’s significant changes in material properties, specifically the very high modulus, contributed to poor clinical performance.2
  • Significant changes have also been made to properties of melt-irradiated polyethylenes developed by Dr. Harris and MIT.
  • There is no clinical experience with regard to a melt-irradiated material. Polyethylene that is not melt-irradiated tends to maintain similar material properties as standard polyethylene, whereas melt-irradiated does not.

Crossfire Polyethylene maintains similar material properties to standard polyethylene. When these properties change significantly, the results cannot be predicted.

  • Crossfire Polyethylene's material properties are preserved compared to standard polyethylene packaged in a gamma/inert environment, while helping to reduce polyethylene wear by 90 percent.3-5
Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademark(s) or service mark(s): Trident. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.
References

1. Pg. 7, Crossfire Brochure, #LCFB

2. Livingston BJ, Chmell MD, et al, “Complications of THA Associated with the use of an Acetabular Component with a Hylamer Liner,” The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc., 79-A, 10(October 1997):1529-1538.

3. Taylor, S, “Advances in Polyethylene: Crossfire,” Stryker Literature #LSA23.

4. Dumbleton, JH, Edidin, AA, “A Highly Crosslinked Oxidation-Resistant Polyethylene: Crossfire,” Stryker Orthopaedics Literature #LSA29.

5. Edidin, AA, et al, "Gamma Sterilization in Nitrogen Prevents Degradation for More Than 10 Years," Trans. ORS, p.1, 2000.