Method and apparatus for applying a bone attachment coating

A method of applying a bone attachment coating to an orthopaedic implant, the bone attachment coating being formed from a plurality of particles applied to a polymer bone facing surface of the orthopaedic implant, the method comprising:

• locally exciting the plurality of particles using an ultrasonic exciter without directly exciting the polymer bone facing surface of the orthopaedic implant so as to increase the vibrational energy of the particles without directly heating the orthopaedic implant;
• wherein the vibrational energy is selected to be lower than an amount of energy required to melt the particles;
• and
• wherein the vibrational energy of the particles causes localised heating of the orthopaedic implant by an amount sufficient to melt the polymer bone facing surface such that the particles may become embedded into a bone facing region of the orthopaedic implant.

A method of applying a bone attachment coating to an orthopaedic implant, the bone attachment coating being formed from a plurality of particles applied to a polymer bone facing surface of the orthopaedic implant, the method comprising:

• locally exciting the plurality of particles using an ultrasonic exciter without directly exciting the polymer bone facing surface of the orthopaedic implant so as to increase the vibrational energy of the particles without directly heating the orthopaedic implant;
• and
• applying pressure to the particles using a press arranged so as to press the particles against the polymer bone facing surface of the orthopaedic implant at an interface between the press and the orthopaedic implant;
• wherein the vibrational energy of the particles causes localised heating of the orthopaedic implant and subsequent melting of the polymer bone facing surface such that the particles become embedded into a bone facing region of the orthopaedic implant.