Scientists in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, have developed a cost-effective material used by surgeons to repair the endocranium, the outermost layer of the dura mater.

Prof. Yue Wu, with the Harbin Medical University, and his colleagues have developed the material with extracts of halobios, at about one fifth the cost of imported product.

The artificial material has passed tests on animals, Prof. Yue said.

Currently, China relies on imported repair materials that cost over 3,200 yuan (US$385) for a single operation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2003)