Porous metal implants for enhanced bone ingrowth and stability

.................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 3 Table of contents ...................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 7 1. Background ........................................................................................................................ 10 1.1 Skeletal function and repair............................................................................................ 10 1.1.1 Cartilage................................................................................................................... 10 1.1.2 Bone ......................................................................................................................... 11 1.1.3 Bone remodelling and homeostasis ......................................................................... 13 1.1.4 Bone repair .............................................................................................................. 15 1.1.5 Mechanics ................................................................................................................ 16 1.2 Implants .......................................................................................................................... 18 1.2.1 Arthroplasty ............................................................................................................. 20 1.2.2 Bone-implant interfaces ........................................................................................... 25 1.3 Porous metals ................................................................................................................. 29 1.3.1 Classification ........................................................................................................... 29 1.3.2 Mechanics ................................................................................................................ 31 1.3.3 Fabrication ............................................................................................................... 37 1.4 Porous metals for bone implants .................................................................................... 41 1.4.1 Timeline ................................................................................................................... 41 1.4.2 Biological testing of porous metals ......................................................................... 43 2. Methods ............................................................................................................................... 49 2.1 Electron Beam Melting .................................................................................................. 49 2.2 Scanning electron microscopy ....................................................................................... 53 2.3 Shrinkage ........................................................................................................................ 53 2.4 Mechanical testing.......................................................................................................... 54