Finite element modeling to predict bulk mechanical properties of 3D printed metal foams

Worldwide yearly 800.000-1.000.000 people receive a total artificial hip. 8-9% Of all patients requires a second surgery to correct the primary arthroplasty. In more than 70% of cases, aseptic loosening is the cause for implant failure. Possible pathways leading to aseptic loosening are stress shielding and micro-motions. Stress shielding can be...

The rational design of meta-implants using a combination of auxetic and conventional microstructures

With the aging population growing, the increasing prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) seems inevitable. As a result, the number of joint replacements is expected to grow substantially within the next decade. Today’s hip replacements have the potential to function for more than 20 years, but due to risk factors such as aseptic loosening, the...

Design and optimisation of an additively manufactured patient-specific partial mandible reconstruction implant

Additive manufacturing (AM) provides the opportunity for complex porous designs, without the costs depending on batch size. Therefore patient-specific implants can be rapidly manufactured. In clinical practice, reconstruction of the mandible is needed in case of bone tumors or trauma. Part of the mandible is removed and the shape of the missing...

Design and fabrication of 3D-printed hard-soft interfaces made from PLA and hydrogel

The mechanical properties of biological hard-soft interfaces change gradually over a small surface area to prevent the formation of stress concentrations through variations in the interface’s chemical composition, microstructure and geometry. The bone-tendon/ligament and bone-cartilage interface are the most prominent hard-soft interfaces within...