Introduction: Nitinol (NiTi) is the most interesting smart material used in orthopedic surgery and production of artificial muscles. Considering its medical applications, Nitinol biocompatibility is therefore quite important. This issue is discussed in this paper.

Methods: Nitinol alloy experimentally produced by melting and casting under vacuum plus imported commercial AO samples were implanted in limb tissue of a number of male rats. Twenty one days after the implantation, fibroblast and fibrosis formation in the tissues around the alloy were studied.

Results: The amount of the alloy that was corroded under the experimental invitro conditions was acceptable. The biocompatibility of the experimentally made alloy implanted in limb tissue was nearly similar to that of the imported alloy.

Conclusion: According to the results obtained, utilization of Nitinol in medicine is scientifically justifiable. Possibilities of its wide industrial and medical applications favorably support the mass production of the alloy in the country and its biocompatible parallels that of the imported material.

Hakim Research Journal 2006 9(2): 50- 56.