Laser-produced porous structure
AssigneesHowmedica Osteonics Corp., The University of Liverpool
InventorsEric Jones, Christopher J. Sutcliffe, 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.
Claims21
A method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure comprising the steps of:
- depositing a first layer of a powder made from a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, cobalt chrome alloys, tantalum and niobium onto a substrate;
- scanning a beam to form a plurality of points having a cross-sectional area, said points forming a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells within said metal powder layer;
- depositing at least one additional layer of said powder onto said first layer;
- and
- repeating said scanning step to form a plurality of additional points, said additional points forming additional portions of said plurality of predetermined unit cells including at least one strut having a length and a cross-sectional area, wherein said at least one strut extends in an oblique direction with respect to said substrate and said cross-sectional area along said length of said at least one strut is substantially equal to said cross-sectional area of said points.
A method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure comprising the steps of:
- depositing a first layer of a powder made from a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, cobalt chrome alloys, tantalum and niobium onto a substrate;
- scanning a beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells within said metal powder layer;
- depositing at least one additional layer of said powder onto said first layer;
- and
- repeating said scanning step to form additional portions of said plurality of predetermined unit cells, said portions forming at least one strut having a length and a cross-sectional area, wherein the at least one strut extends in an oblique direction with respect to said substrate and said cross-sectional area of said at least one strut is substantially equal along said length of said at least one strut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.