Porous Trabecular Implants - Surface Analysis, Design and 3D Printing Prototyping

Knowledge of the 3D geometry and characteristics - porous metals with trabecular structure based on titanium or tantalum alloys - is increasingly becoming the premise for the selection and design of advanced biomaterials according to the desired properties. Recent AM techniques and design have allowed precise control of the internal pore structure of the porous architecture, resulting in the manufacture of complex geometries with repeatability. These types of matrices - lattices manufactured by additive techniques are gaining particular interest in the biomedical field. A defining element of the study is the use of "open-source" distribution software that allows all the proposed steps: 1 - ImageJ / BoneJ for analysis and defining ideal bone porosity parameters (control) compared with the surface of trabecular metal implants (models 1 - TMT Zimmer and 2 - Tritanium Stryker) 2 - MathMod for generating 3D matrix structure model based on Gyroid TPMS. A system of described matrices, which includes geometric structures built in three-dimensional cell grids, can be obtained by computer-aided design (CAD), based on mathematical models using 3D printing applications. 3 - MeshMixer, Fusion 360 for creating an orthopedic implant prototype with trabecular structure and porosity parameters by 3D printing 4 - Analysis and verification of the surface properties of the prototype samples with different porosity obtained through AM using again Image / BoneJ. The variant of an implant created by 3D design starting from the particular anatomy of the patient, implant modeled with resistance zones with trabecular structure according to the constraints established with the orthopedic surgeon, having the corresponding porosity - is practically possible to perform on a prototype, within the preoperative planning process, without significant technical problems.