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  • Development process and manufacturing of modern medical implants with LENS technology
    Balažic, Matej ...
    Purpose: Research and development of modern medical implants is complex and demanding process focused on fulfilling requirements regarding materials, machining technologies and functionality. Typical ... example of modern medical implant is elbow nail for fixation of Caput radii fractures. It could be manufactured with classical machining technologies and with advanced Rapid Prototyping technologies such as highly targeted metal deposition technology LENS (Laser Engineered Net Shaping). Design/methodology/approach: Development of modern medical implants is a multi-stage design and manufacturing process primarily based on computer aided design (CAD), computer simulations, machinability of certificated biomaterials, in-vitro biofunctionality and in-vivo tests. Findings: LENS technology enables rapid and agile manufacturing, improved design flexibility, repair and re-manufacture. Material built with LENS technology has equal or even better mechanical and material properties. In medical application LENS technology enables development and rapid prototyping of special surgical instruments, trauma and orthopaedic high-performance implants which are hollow and thin walled. Research limitations/implications: To confirm assumption regarding better material and mechanical properties of products made with LENS technology additional static, dynamic (the High-Cycle-Fatigue test) and material (porosity and microstructure) tests will be carried out in the near future. Practical implications: Three different designs of bone fixation nail prototype made of titanium alloy had been manufactured with conventional machining techniques where some disadvantages due to the technology had been identified. To solve those problems LENS technology had been applied. As fourth design hollow thin walled fixation bone nail prototype made of titaniumalloy powder (grain size 45ìm) had been manufactured and tested. Originality/value: Paper presents case study where LENS technology is being applied to manufacture modern medical implants. Particular focus of the paper is on material quality and quality benefits obtained in current and future medical application.
    Source: Journal of achievements in materials and manufacturing engineering : JAMME. - ISSN 1734-8412 (Vol. 32, iss. 1, Jan. 2009, str. 46-52)
    Type of material - article, component part
    Publish date - 2009
    Language - english
    COBISS.SI-ID - 10998555

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