05 May 2026
Vitamys – a pionering achievement in joint arthroplasty
Mathys was the first manufacturer of orthopaedic prostheses to launch a highly cross-linked polyethylene enriched with vitamin E (VEPE) – a so-called «blended antioxidant highly cross-linked polyethylene (AO-HXLPE)» –, trademarked as vitamys. Addition of the natural antioxidant alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) eliminates the need for heat treatment with fusing, thus preserving the good mechanical properties of polyethylene.
In September 2009, after several years of intensive research and development, the first RM Pressfit cup made of vitamys was implanted – a truly ground-breaking achievement in orthopaedics.
Vitamys is manufactured with only a stress relieving heat treatment well below the melting point, in order to ensure the dimensional stability, as well as the good mechanical strength of the material. By the addition of the natural antioxidant vitamin E, vitamys achieves its high oxidation resistance. This ensures that the excellent mechanical and tribological properties are maintained even over long periods of use.
The advantage of vitamys lies in the beneficial combination of four properties:
• High elasticity for reduced stress shielding;
• Good mechanical strength for long-term material performance;
• High wear resistance for reduced risk of osteolysis;
• High oxidation stability for high ageing resistance
Reduced stress shielding and a reduced risk of osteolysis contribute significantly to bone preservation. Combined with a long-term material performance and with high resistance to ageing, this results in a durable prosthesis material.
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