Laser-produced porous surface
AssigneesHowmedica Osteonics Corp., The University of Liverpool
InventorsWilliam O'Neill, Christopher J. Sutcliffe, Eric Jones, Robin Stamp
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Abstract
The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.
Claims25
An orthopedic implant comprising:
- porous metallic first and second structures, at least a portion of either one or both of the first and second structures being defined by polygonal porous cells;
- and
- a metallic intermediate structure attached to and located between the first and the second structures, the intermediate structure having a different porosity than the first and the second structures.
An orthopedic implant comprising:
- porous metallic first and second structures, at least a portion of either one or both of the first and second structures being defined by irregular porous cells;
- and
- a metallic intermediate structure attached to and located between the first and the second structures, the intermediate structure having a different porosity than the first and the second structures.
An orthopedic implant comprising:
- porous metallic first and second structures, at least a portion of either one or both of the first and second structures being defined by polygonal porous cells having an irregular shape;
- and
- a solid metallic intermediate structure directly attached to and located between the first and the second structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.