Little did materials scientist Ashok Khandkar and orthopedic surgeon Aaron Hoffman realize the impact that a ceramic material—silicon nitride—would have on the quality of life for many people with spine disease. Today, SINTX Technologies, the company they helped establish, is making silicon nitride spinal fusion implants and exploring many new applications for the material.

Background

Silicon nitride is an inorganic and nonmetallic material made of silicon and nitrogen, two elements that are essential in biologic systems. It is made by mixing highly refined raw powders that are formed into desired shapes. The final product is finished in furnaces under high pressure and heat. Dense silicon nitride is a very hard, abrasion- and corrosion-resistant solid. Unlike familiar ceramics such as porcelain or glass, silicon nitride has very high strength with the highest fracture resistance of any advanced ceramic.