Dissolvable Glass For Bone Repair

gpronger writes "Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, but Glass Will Certainly Mend Them! The old schoolyard ditty may be changed to reflect developments using metallic glass that will dissolve in situ instead of the traditional stainless steel or titanium hardware, which require removal by surgery once the bone has healed. Physics World reports that researcher Jörg Löffler at ETH Zurich has created an alloy of 60% magnesium, 35% zinc, and 5% calcium, molded in the form of metallic glass. Through rapid cooling, the alloy forms a molecularly amorphous glass that slowly dissolves over time, supporting the injury long enough for healing, then slowly dissolving away."

Comments

Re:I'm involved in something closely related.

[QuoteMstr]

That's all well and good, but if this company's product works, it will market it using well-endowed young female sales representatives to doctors who will use it regardless of whether the patient needs it, and charge unconscionably high rates to insurance companies, who will either outright refuse to approve the beads, revoke the coverage of anyone prescribed the treatment, or simply charge the cost to everyone in the form of yet another year-over-year 20% premium increase.

So while I'm sure the technology is sound, our system of distribution ensures that only the wealthiest will receive it. How is that just?

Re:Somehow...

[geekboy642]

The funny part is you think Slashdot editors edit, or work sober, or even have the intelligence of a warm grapefruit. Protip: They don't.