Three-dimensional lattice structures for implants
Inventors
Jones, Christopher L. • Helmar, Ian • Diehl, Lucas • Tinley, Jason • Chappuis, Kevin D. • Sullivan, John F.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10888429-B2
Publication Date
2021-01-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
The three-dimensional lattice structures disclosed herein have applications including use in medical implants. Some examples of the lattice structure are structural in that they can be used to provide structural support or mechanical spacing. In some examples, the lattice can be configured as a scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell.
Core Innovation
A structure for use in medical implants uses a three-dimensional lattice structure configured to extend between two adjacent bony structures and provide sole mechanical spacing between the two adjacent bony structures. The lattice includes a plurality of repeating unit cells and a plurality of fluidly interconnected openings disposed within a volume of the three-dimensional lattice. The fluidly interconnected openings include a first group of openings comprising a first width and a second group of openings comprising a second width, where the second width is greater than the first width and the number of openings in the second group is a ratio of about 1:1 to 1:25 of the number of openings in the first group.
A second structure for use in medical implants also provides sole mechanical spacing between at least two areas of a location where the structure is implanted. The three-dimensional lattice includes a plurality of struts and fluidly interconnected openings defined by the plurality of struts. The openings include a first group configured to promote osteoblast in-growth and a second group configured to promote osteon in-growth, wherein a width of the second group of openings is larger than a width of the first group of openings.
The lattice structures further use specified lattice geometries and structural definitions, including a plurality of unit cells that form a radial dodeca-rhombus structure via struts located within an amorphous volume. The described lattice structures use quantitative geometric and mechanical performance constraints, including volumetric density, elastic modulus, and yield load behavior under static and dynamic loading, together with opening width group relationships between the first group and the second group.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00015. Each independent claim defines a three-dimensional lattice medical-implant structure with fluidly interconnected openings split into groups with different widths, where the second opening group is wider, and the lattice provides sole mechanical spacing to enable bone in-growth-related functions; the claims include multiple numeric and performance refinements in dependent claims.
Sole mechanical spacing three-dimensional lattice with first and second opening-width groups
A three-dimensional lattice structure configured to extend between two adjacent bony structures and provide sole mechanical spacing between the two adjacent bony structures, the lattice comprising a plurality of repeating unit cells and fluidly interconnected openings including a first group of openings with a first width and a second group of openings with a second width greater than the first width, the number of openings in the second group being a ratio of about 1:1 to 1:25 of the number of openings in the first group.
Osteoblast and osteon in-growth opening groups with wider second openings
A three-dimensional lattice structure configured to provide sole mechanical spacing between at least two areas of a location where the structure is implanted, the lattice comprising a plurality of struts and fluidly interconnected openings defined by the plurality of struts, wherein a first group of openings is configured to promote osteoblast in-growth and a second group of openings is configured to promote osteon in-growth, and wherein a width of the second group of openings is larger than a width of the first group of openings.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on a medical-implant three-dimensional lattice spacer that uses fluidly interconnected openings arranged into a first group and a second group, with the second group having a larger width. Dependent claims further constrain the lattice through numeric opening-width and opening-count ratios, volumetric density, modulus, and yield-load performance, and specify example unit-cell geometries such as a radial dodeca-rhombus structure via struts within an amorphous volume.
Stated Advantages
Provides sole mechanical spacing between adjacent bony structures.
Supports osteoblast in-growth using a first group of openings.
Supports osteon in-growth using a second group of openings.
Improves mechanical performance through quantitative constraints including torsional yield load, shear yield load, compressive yield load, and elastic modulus ranges.
Documented Applications
A medical-implant structure for use at a location implanted between two adjacent bony structures to provide sole mechanical spacing.
A medical-implant structure used to provide sole mechanical spacing between at least two areas of a location where the structure is implanted, with openings configured to promote osteoblast in-growth and osteon in-growth.
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