Three-dimensional lattice structures for implants
AssigneeNanohive Medical LLC
InventorsChristopher Laine, Ian Helmar, Lucas Diehl, Jason Tinley, Kevin D. Chappuis, John F. Sullivan
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Abstract
The three-dimensional lattice structures disclosed herein have applications including use in medical implants. Some examples of the lattice structure are structural in that they can be used to provide structural support or mechanical spacing. In some examples, the lattice can be configured as a scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. The lattice structures are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.
Claims17
A porous lattice structure for use in medical implants, the porous lattice structure comprising:
- a plurality of repeating unit cells, each unit cell comprising:
- a plurality of sub-unit cells, each sub-unit cell comprising:
- a plurality of connected faces configured to define a volume of the sub-unit cell;
- a node located within the volume of the sub-unit cell;
- and
- a plurality of struts extending from the node within the volume of the sub-unit cell and defining a plurality of rhombic openings therebetween, wherein at least one rhombic opening comprises two internal angles that equal a lateral separation angle ranging between 109.5 degrees and 180 degrees;
- a first loading direction;
- and
- a second loading direction oriented at an angle offset from the first loading direction;
- wherein the porous lattice structure comprises a first elastic modulus in the first loading direction and a second elastic modulus in the second loading direction, wherein the first elastic modulus is less than the second elastic modulus and the porous lattice structure comprises at least one of a rhombic dodecahedron shaped sub-unit cell and a radial dodeca-rhombus shaped sub-unit cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.