WSURF Case 827
Low-Density, Low-Stiffness Joint Implant Structures
Summary
Load bearing implants are typically made of dense metals which are significantly stronger and heavier than porous, natural bone. Stress-shielding is a problem in load bearing implants, due to the use of these high-density, high-stiffness replacement materials. WSU researchers have used a metal based rapid prototyping process to create functional, load bearing implants that are hollow, porous or interconnected inside.
Applications & Advantages
- Reduced stiffness and weight
Stiffness and weight reduced by 50% or more without changing the implant composition, size or shape.
Further aspects of this design optimize the implants' compositional similarities with natural bone:
- Improved biological fixation
The addition of calcium phosphates to create compositionally gradient porous structures enables tissue to grow through the pores and bond significantly better compared to any dense implants.
- Increased surface bioactivity
Nano-porous TiO2 surface modifications are applied via an intelligent modification approach which optimizes cell-materials interactions for early stage cell adhesion and proliferation.
IP Status
US patent pending. Available for licensing.
For more information about this technology please contact WSURF:
1610 NE Eastgate Blvd, Suite 650
Pullman, WA 99164
Phone: (509) 335-5526
Fax: (509) 335-7237
wsurf@wsu.edu
