Biomedical Applications of Shape Memory Alloys

Table 2

Sketch of the main NiTi applications in the biomedical field according to SMA properties.

	Effects
Fields of application	Pseudoelasticity; Mechanical shape recovery/wide plateau/constrained recovery	Shape Memory Effect; Heat-induced shape recovery/constrained recovery
Orthodontic field	Wires, palatal arches, distractors, endodontic files	Wires
Orthopedic field	Intraspinal implants, intramedullary nails	Staples or plates, devices for correcting scoliosis, spinal vertebrae spacer, intramedullary nails, devices for physiotherapy
Vascular field	Venous filters, devices for closing ventricular septal defects, self-expandable vascular stents, stent-graft, percutaneous devices to treat valvular diseases	Venous filters, devices for closing ventricular septal defects
Neurosurgical Field	Coils, stents, microguidewires
Surgical field		Mini-invasive surgical instruments