These new titanium strip grades could enable better neuromodulation devices

Officials at Ametek Specialty Metal Products (Collegeville, Pa.) think their new titanium strip grades for medical applications could enable more innovation in the fast-growing neuromodulation device sector.

Ametek’s Hamilton Precision Metals and SMP Wallingford businesses have proprietary production processes for the new titanium grades — grades 9 and 23. They manufacture thin strips of the titanium through cold rolling and annealing. When incorporated into the external shell of an implanted medical device, the titanium strip enables external charging.

Historically, titanium grades 1 and 2 have gone into implantable medical devices, but grades 1 and 2 don’t offer non-contact charging capabilities for batteries. The new grades 9 and 23 could allow for safe, external re-charging for a range of neuromodulation and neurostimulation therapy applications, according to Ametek.

“Our new titanium strip grade products are set to make a major contribution to the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea and chronic pain without the use of opioids,” Matt Lappen, product manager for SMP’s strip business, said in a recent news release. “We’re very excited to be a part of this ground-breaking therapeutic advance.”