The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.

The biocompatible lattice structures and implants disclosed herein have an increased or optimized lucency, even when constructed from a metallic material. The lattice structures can also provide an increased or optimized lucency in a material that is not generally considered to be radiolucent. Lucency can include disparity, maximum variation in lucency properties across a structure, or dispersion, minimum variation in lucency properties across a structure. The implants and lattice structures disclosed herein may be optimized for disparity or dispersion in any desired direction. A desired direction with respect to lucency can include the anticipated x-ray viewing direction of an implant in the expected implantation orientation.

The variable or adjustable depth medical implants in this application are capable of depth adjustment prior to implantation. The variable depth implants permit a single implant to provide multiple footprint configurations, allowing a surgeon footprint adjustability in the operating room. The implants can comprise a metallic lattice designed for specific physical properties, such as an elastic modulus. In some examples, the main body of the implant is taller than the adjustable portion of the implant (also referred to as the second implant body) so that the physical properties of the main body of the implant are controlling at the implant site. In some embodiments, the variable implant is constructed in an additive process as a single unit.

The invention relates to a bone implant, comprising a main body, which has, in its outer region, an open-cell porous lattice structure, which is formed from a plurality of regularly arranged elementary cells, the elementary cells being in the form of an assembled structure and each being composed of an interior and of a plurality of interconnected bars surrounding the interior. The porous lattice structure is provided with a bone-growth-promoting coating comprising calcium phosphate, the calcium phosphate coating having a hydroxylapatite proportion forming a pore inner coating extending into the depth of the porous lattice structure.

An orthopaedic implant includes a femoral component having a metallic zirconium and niobium coating disposed therein. A method of making the femoral component using direct energy deposition or co-molding is also disclosed.

A system and computer-implemented method for manufacturing an orthopedic implant involves segmenting features in an image of anatomy. Anatomic elements can be isolated. Spatial relationships between the isolated anatomic elements can be manipulated. Negative space between anatomic elements is mapped before and/or after manipulating the spatial relationships. At least a portion of the negative space can be filled with a virtual implant. The virtual implant can be used to design and manufacture a physical implant.

Compositions and methods for making biocompatible articles are provided. A method includes preparing a 3D printable mixture and depositing successive layers of the mixture in a predetermined pattern to form a porous biocompatible article. The predetermined pattern has a porosity suitable for a bone or cartilage scaffold. Associated 3D printable compositions and porous articles made from the described methods are also described. The preparing a 3D printable mixture can comprise conjugating an alkyne-terminated polymer to a peptide to form a peptide-containing composite, or providing a mixture that comprises a ceramic material and a binder, and wherein the 3D printable mixture comprises from 50 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the ceramic material.

The present disclosure provides zirconium powder particles comprising pure zirconium powder particles with an oxide layer ranging from 0.05 to 5 microns in thickness and/or zirconium alloy powder particles with an oxide layer ranging from 0.05 to 5 microns in thickness. In some embodiments, the zirconium powder particles may be spherical particles, the zirconium powder particles may range from 5 microns to 125 microns in diameter, and/or the zirconium powder particles may have a median particle size ranging from 25 to 70 microns in diameter. The present disclosure further provides methods of producing medical implants or medical implant components by a process that comprises selectively applying energy to such zirconium powder particles to build the medical implants or the medical implant components. In some embodiments, the methods comprise repeatedly forming a layer of zirconium powder particles and irradiating the layer of zirconium powder particles with an energy source.

The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.

Intervertebral implant systems include spacers that may have solid and porous bodies integrally formed together as a single part. The bone-facing sides of the spacers include asymmetric lobes which may include solid and/or porous portions. Bone anchor holes may extend through the spacers and lobes, to receive bone anchors. A helically fluted bone anchor may be received in the bone anchor holes.