Standard Promotes More-Nuanced Approach to Measuring Biomaterial Surface Roughness

Although widely used in engineering as a parameter of surface roughness, R_a lacks the sensitivity to provide the most meaningful results when it comes to biomaterials. Consequently, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has prepared a new ASTM International guide to raise awareness of the various methods and approaches available for quantifying surface texture. The guide is described in the latest issue of Metromnia, a quarterly magazine from NPL.

The new guide describes roughness parameters that go beyond the ubiquitous R_a measurement, notes the brief article, and details the pros and cons of the various techniques for measuring surface texture. The methods typically used to analyse roughness data, which include filters and levelling, are also covered. Copies of the new standard can be obtained from the ASTM website.

NPL is also collaborating with a consortium of European standards laboratories to develop metrology requirements for understanding cell-surface interactions. Further information about this project, funded by the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) and the UK National Measurement Office, can be found at the EMRP site.

The Spring 2010 issue of Metromnia, titled the Health Issue, includes a number of other articles on NPL projects that may pique the interest of readers from the medtech manufacturing community. These include an examination of interfacial pressure sensors used in medical applications and the description of a technique that allows viewer to watch viruses infecting cells in real time.

Tags: Metromnia, National Physical Laboratory, NPL, surface roughness