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Editorial
Reflecting Back on the 10th Anniversary of the
Titanium Applications
Development Award
What started out as a simple idea
to recognize individuals or
organizations who have shown
significant achievement towards
improving and expanding the use
of titanium, has evolved into an
internationally recognized program
which has awarded a diverse range of
candidates using titanium in a variety of
sectors including aerospace, industrial,
medical and consumer markets.
The program, now in its 10th
anniversary year, is collecting
applications for the $20,000 prize which
will be presented to the winner(s) at the
TITANIUM USA Conference in Arizona
this September 25-28th.
The TAD award is intended
to distinguish and remunerate
commendable work in an area too little
rewarded as well as potentially help
support the continued development of
the application.
Dr. Christopher Higgins, Professor
at Oregon State University, won the
award in 2015 for his role in developing a
novel titanium application for repairing
highway infrastructure. The Oregon
Department of Transportation (ODOT)
in Salem selected a repair concept by
Dr. Higgins—a titanium “staple” to
reinforce fractures in the reinforced
concrete—which was deployed by ODOT
on the Mosier Bridge, an “overcrossing”
of Interstate 84, which is a major east/
west corridor for the state. Dr. Higgins
designed the idea of the staple and the
requirement of a surface treatment that
would allow titanium alloy bars to be
used to strengthen concrete bridges.
Perryman Company (Houston, PA)
manufactured the titanium staples and
developed the methods to produce the
surface treatment.
“The ITA Grant Committee
has reviewed applications covering
everything from musical instruments
to building tools; connecting rods
to micromachining technologies;
marine vessels to a variety of medical
applications.” said Jennifer Simpson,
who has been the executive director of
the International Titanium Association
since 2001, “What is interesting is they
were all worthy candidates…each one
of the applications ITA received were so
imaginative, admirable and praiseworthy
of the award. Unfortunately only
one candidate can win each year so
the committee has to follow a careful
criteria where they may evaluate the best
candidate. It’s a tough decision for them
because there are so many highly creative
ideas for using titanium metal. Each year
the committee is always excited to see
what new ideas are out there”.
Synthes USA accepted the award
in 2011 for the Vertical Expandable
Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR),
a medical implant that utilizes the
alloy Ti-6Al-7Nb and commercially
pure titanium components. Roberto
Khatchadourian, in his submission
for the ITA award, wrote that prior
to the design and release of VEPTR,
“there was no known implant device
that was indicated for the treatment of
thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS)
in skeletally immature patients.” The
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,
on its Web site for information on
orthopaedic surgery, described TIS as
an affliction where a child’s rib cage and
spine does not keep pace with normal
growth—a condition that results in
deformity and breathing problems.
VEPTR mechanically stabilizes and
“distracts” the thorax (the chest and
rib cage) to correct three-dimensional
thoracic deformities. The VEPTR system
“allows distraction of the titanium rib
prosthesis to accommodate a patient’s
skeletal growth,” Khatchadourian wrote.
“This implant design utilizes distraction
principles, which will not interfere with
normal skeletal growth.” In essence, the
device supports and expands the chest
wall, creating room for lung growth,
and helps to maintain spinal alignment.
VEPTR is “a wonderful humanitarian
achievement,” Khatchadourian declared.
When considering nominations for
40 TITANIUMTODAY