Computational design of patient-specific orthopedic implants: from micro-architected materials to shape-matching geometry

Background: Despite over a century’s worth of technical improvements, the longterm survivability associated with orthopedic implants continues to fall short. In contrast to earlier designs, implant failure is no longer caused by structural failure of the implant itself. Rather, it results from the implant’s long-term detrimental effects on the...

An insertability constraint for shape optimization

Patient-specific implants offer a host of benefits over their generic counterparts. Nonetheless, the design and optimization of these components present several technical challenges, among them being the need to ensure their insertability into the host bone tissue. This presents a significant challenge due to the tight-fitting nature of the...

Multi-objective design optimization of 3D micro-architected implants

Recent advances in 3D printable micro-architected materials offer unprecedented possibilities for the development of highly tailored orthopaedic implants. These devices, which are typically made from fully solid materials, significantly alter load transmission to the surrounding bone tissue, potentially leading to interface instability and bone...