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Materialise is supporting this trend by expanding its CMF (cranio-maxillofacial) portfolio for implants in the cranial, jaw, and facial regions to include PEEK. According to Materialise, this expansion will give surgeons the flexibility to choose between titanium and PEEK for personalized reconstructions.
PEEK is a high-performance plastic that combines extreme thermal stability with high mechanical strength and chemical resistance. The customized PEEK implants are joining Materialise’s established CMF portfolio. “Personalization isn’t just about material choices but about the precision of the planning process and the reliability of execution,” says Maarten Zandbergen, Market Manager at Materialise. “Our clinical engineers work hand in hand with the surgeons to design each implant, and that collaborative approach remains constant whether the case calls for titanium or PEEK.”
According to Materialise, PEEK’s radiolucent properties make it the preferred choice of many surgeons for cranial reconstruction, facial contour restoration, and onlay applications. In facial surgery (especially jaw surgery), onlay applications are surgical procedures in which bone replacement material or implants are placed directly on existing bone.
The PEEK material complements the established role of titanium, “giving surgeons more options for addressing diverse patient needs — from artifact-free postoperative imaging to lightweight anatomical restoration,” according to Materialise.
Each PEEK implant is manufactured in Europe by Ad Mirabiles, Materialise’s manufacturing partner. Ad Mirabiles operates under an EN ISO 13485-certified quality management system and ensures consistent quality at all times. Materialise commits to a 72-hour turnaround time for PEEK implants following surgical plan approval, providing the same reliability the company has established with its titanium portfolio.
