Mechanical testing and numerical modelling of porous structures improving oseintegration of implants

Abstract

Implants, such as dental, are ordinary devices in medical care nowadays, even though they are quite expensive. In the present study, the use of trabecular and gyroid structures as external layer of implants is examined. The advantage of porous structures compared to surface modification of compact implants is the possibility to be fabricated by additive manufacturing together with the whole implant. The additive manufacturing also allows us to produce various shapes with controlled porosity for bone ingrowth. The design of 6 types of trabecular and 4 types of gyroid structures is part of the study. The trabecular structures are strut-based, whereas the gyroid structures are based on a wall system. The study is focused on mechanical testing of samples which were 3D printed from the titanium alloy Ti6Al4V. The gyroid structures, which we evaluated as more reliable, were chosen for numerical modelling. Other observed advantages and disadvantages of the structures are also discussed.