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by thenthenthen 22 days ago
Why do they use cobalt? For imaging?! I always assumed they used titanium or platinum :/
2 comments
defrost 22 days ago 

  Cobalt-chrome is the most commonly used metal for hip implants. Titanium is also used but is a softer metal with similar properties to bone.
~ https://practiceplusgroup.com/knowledge-hub/what-hip-replace...

with known risks:

Cobalt toxicity — an emerging clinical problem in patients (2011) - https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2011/194/12/cobalt-toxicity-e...

Cobalt-chromium toxicity following revision of total hip replacement (2024) - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11115421/

link
cucumber3732842 22 days ago
Because the human body is warm and wet and salty and so despite the forces being low when your criteria are "super long wearing" and "non-reactive" you wind up with kind of a shitty list of options.

It's "supposed" to remain in solid form.

link