Porous implant structures
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Sharp, Shilesh Jani, Laura Gilmour, Ryan Landon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Porous biocompatible structures suitable for use as medical implants and methods for fabricating such structures are disclosed. The disclosed structures may be fabricated using rapid manufacturing techniques. The disclosed porous structures each have a plurality of struts and nodes where no more than two struts intersect one another to form a node. Further, the nodes can be straight, curved, and can include portions that are curved and/or straight. The struts and nodes can form cells that can be fused or sintered to at least one other cell to form a continuous reticulated structure for improved strength while providing the porosity needed for tissue and cell in-growth.
Claims36
A porous structure comprising:
- a plurality of struts, each strut comprising an elongated body portion between a first end and a second end;
- and
- a plurality of nodes, wherein each node comprises an intersection of at least an end of a first strut, an end of a second strut, and an end of a third strut;
- wherein at least three of the struts intersect at each of the plurality of nodes;
- wherein at least some struts of the plurality of struts have a different length from at least some other struts of the plurality of struts;
- and
- wherein some of the struts are straight and some of the struts are curved.
A porous structure comprising:
- a plurality of struts, each strut comprising an elongated body portion between a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of nodes, wherein each node comprises an intersection of at least an end of a first strut, an end of a second strut, and an end of a third strut;
- and
- a plurality of open pores defined between the plurality of struts;
- wherein at least three of the struts intersect at each of the plurality of nodes;
- and
- wherein at least some struts of the plurality of struts have a different length from at least some other struts of the plurality of struts.
A porous structure comprising:
- a plurality of struts, each strut comprising an elongated body portion between a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of nodes, wherein each node comprises an intersection of at least an end of a first strut, an end of a second strut, and an end of a third strut;
- and
- wherein at least three of the struts intersect at each of the plurality of nodes;
- wherein at least some struts of the plurality of struts have a different length from at least some other struts of the plurality of struts;
- and
- wherein a cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of struts varies randomly.
A porous structure comprising:
- a plurality of struts, each strut comprising an elongated body portion between a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of nodes, wherein each node comprises an intersection of at least an end of a first strut, an end of a second strut, and an end of a third strut;
- and
- wherein at least three of the struts intersect at each of the plurality of nodes;
- wherein at least some struts of the plurality of struts have a different length from at least some other struts of the plurality of struts;
- and
- wherein a first end of at least one strut has a first random diameter, a second end of the at least one strut has a second random diameter, and the elongated body portion of the at least one strut has a third random diameter, wherein the first and second diameters are larger than the third diameter.
A porous structure comprising:
- a plurality of struts, each strut comprising an elongated body portion between a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of nodes, wherein each node comprises an intersection of at least an end of a first strut, an end of a second strut, and an end of a third strut;
- and
- wherein at least three of the struts intersect at each of the plurality of nodes;
- wherein at least some struts of the plurality of struts have a different length from at least some other struts of the plurality of struts;
- and
- wherein some or all of the struts randomly grow or shrink in cross-sectional circumference along a predetermined length of the body portion of the strut.
A porous structure comprising:
- a plurality of struts, each strut comprising an elongated body portion between a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of nodes, wherein each node comprises an intersection of at least an end of a first strut, an end of a second strut, and an end of a third strut;
- and
- wherein at least three of the struts intersect at each of the plurality of nodes;
- wherein at least some struts of the plurality of struts have a different length from at least some other struts of the plurality of struts;
- and
- wherein a length of the elongated body portion of each strut varies randomly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.