Iron based alloys have a medical history extending over three hundred years (in 1666 Fabricius described the use of wire hoops for wound closure, and in 1886 Hansmann reported the use of steel sheet for fracture fixation). In 1916, corrosion resistant stainless steels were developed (containing a minimum of 10.5% chromium) and this unique surgical implant material evolved. (Stainless steels achieve their inert characteristics through the formation of an invisible and adherent chromium-rich oxide surface film). In 1947, the American College of surgeons recommended stainless steels for biomedical implantation applications.Stainless Steels are categorised into four general classes, based on composition: 200 series steel contain chromium, nickel and manganese, 300 series steels contain chromium and nickel, 400 series steels contain chromium and 500 series steels contain low chromium. The most corrosion resistant steels are 300 series steels, and hence their popularity for medical implants and body jewellery. However not all 300 series steels are suitable for invasive body piercing applications. Wildcat uses three surgical steels for body jewellery: Composition D Implantation Steel, 316L Surgical Steel and 316 LVM Surgical Steel. Although these high grades all contain nickel, they do not release nickel salts into the body and do not induce contact nickel dermatitis. Wildcat have independent laboratory testing certification on file indicating that nickel evolution is below 0.01 ug/cm2/week. All steels supplied by Wildcat meet the annex Criteria in the EU Nickel Directive and can be supplied, indefinitely, worldwide for all secondary-piercing applications.Surgical Stainless Steels (316L) are used for bone fixation screws, body pins, bone plates, total joint prostheses, bone nails, wires, spin instrumentation, mandibular wire mesh prostheses, orthodontic post and cores, sutures, staples, neurosurgical and microvascular clips, intracranial drainage valves and cardiac pacemaker electrodes, amongst many other applications. Body Jewellery on the following pages is manufactured from equivalent (or higher) standard material. We do not play or gamble with your health. Some disreputable suppliers are offering body jewellery made from 303 Stainless Steel (a high sulphur, easy machining steel). 303 Steels elicit negative reactions in nickel-sensitive persons (14% in test studies) and should be avoided at all costs. Cheap imported garbage now on the market will contaminate the wearer, permanently. All Wildcat Steels are stable, legal alloys. Our Implantation Steel is twenty times more expensive than 316 grade steels; such is our dedication to providing ultra safe body jewellery.ELECTROPOLISH INFORMATION: Many of the following items have been electropolished. Electropolishing is a sophisticated surface finishing technique, where electrochemical activity slowly erodes thin surface layer from the jewellery resulting in MICROSMOOTHING. High spots and protrusions are removed preferentially. The resultant surface is extremely smooth and crevice free. Surface geometry influences bacterial activity: the ultra smooth and ultra clean surface reduces body rejection possibilities. Electropolished body jewellery has a higher surface integrity and surface efficiency than jewellery polished by other means. The Wildcat Collection E&OE
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