Three-dimensional lattice structures for implants
AssigneeNanohive Medical LLC
InventorsChristopher Laine, Ian Helmar, Lucas Diehl, Jason Tinley, Kevin D. Chappuis, John F. Sullivan
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims28
An implant comprising:
- a three-dimensional lattice structure configured to extend between two adjacent bony structures and provide sole mechanical spacing between the two adjacent bony structures, the three-dimensional lattice structure comprising:
- a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell comprising a plurality of sub-unit cells, each sub-unit cell comprising:
- a node located within a volume of the sub-unit cell;
- a plurality of struts extending radially from the node and defining boundaries of the sub-unit cell;
- and
- a plurality of fluidly interconnected openings;
- wherein at least one unit cell from among the plurality of unit cells comprises a rhombic dodecahedron geometric shape.
An implant comprising:
- a three-dimensional lattice structure configured to extend between two adjacent bony structures and provide sole mechanical spacing between the two adjacent bony structures, the three-dimensional lattice structure comprising:
- a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell comprising a plurality of sub-unit cells, each sub-unit cell comprising:
- a node located within a volume of the sub-unit cell;
- a plurality of struts extending radially from the node and defining boundaries of the sub-unit cell;
- and
- a plurality of fluidly interconnected openings;
- wherein the node comprises a square bipyramid with eight node faces and a square plane parallel to a face of a cuboid volume and is centrally located within the volume of the unit cell;
- wherein a first peak of the square bipyramid faces a top portion of the cuboid volume and a second peak of the square bipyramid faces a bottom portion of the cuboid volume;
- wherein a first strut from the plurality of struts is coupled to a first node face and configured to extend from the node face to a corner of the volume of the sub-unit cell;
- and
- wherein at least one opening from among the plurality of interconnected openings comprises an area of 7 square millimeters along its cross-sectional area.
An implant comprising:
- a three-dimensional lattice structure configured to extend between two adjacent bony structures and provide sole mechanical spacing between the two adjacent bony structures, the three-dimensional lattice structure comprising:
- a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell comprising a plurality of sub-unit cells, each sub-unit cell comprising:
- a node located within a volume of the sub-unit cell;
- a plurality of struts extending radially from the node and defining boundaries of the sub-unit cell;
- and
- a plurality of fluidly interconnected openings;
- wherein at least one unit cell from among the plurality of unit cells comprises a rhombic dodecahedron geometric shape having an elongated shape along X and Y axes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.