Research on In Vitro Impact Testing Methodology for PEEK Cranial Implants

Traumatic head injuries pose a significant threat to human life and health in accidents, with cranial fractures and defects being common pathological conditions. Therefore, cranial implants, as crucial medical implants, have garnered considerable attention. The assessment of their safety performance is indispensable, yet previous research has often overlooked the impact resistance of cranial implants and lacked standardized testing protocols. Addressing this gap, this study designed a drop-ball impact apparatus and conducted in vitro experiments to assess polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cranial implants. Equivalent energy levels of falls were applied to simulate impact testing scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate outstanding impact resistance and system adaptability of PEEK cranial implants. The average maximum deformation during impact was 0.07mm, significantly below the failure threshold of 3mm. This research provides robust reference data for in vitro impact testing of cranial implants.