Gartner predicts that devices for hip and knee replacements will reach a market size of $15 billion in the future, and 3D printed hip and knee replacement devices and other commonly used medical devices will become mainstream in the next two to five years. There was no ideal equipment to replace or repair bones damaged by trauma and disease. In addition, the environment in the human body is very susceptible to corrosive implant materials, and the lack of ideal biological materials can avoid interaction with living tissue in the human body. Additive manufacturing effectively addresses the clear and long-lasting needs of orthopedics. For the production of medical implants, the requirements are characterized by custom designs or individualized small batches. The high cost of metal biocompatible materials and the increased processing costs make the cost of the overall implant high. Moreover, it is difficult to process when processing complex-shaped cobalt alloy implants. Some implants are cast or conventional metal powder processing methods, which require a mold. For implants that require only one or a few pieces, such production costs are very expensive, considering that titanium is more difficult to cast. In a complex shape, these costs are even higher. Additive manufacturing advantages Recently, the medical industry has increasingly used metal additive manufacturing techniques (direct metal laser sintering or electron beam melting) to design and manufacture medical implants. Together with the surgeon, engineers can produce more advanced implants and prostheses, using the power of medical imaging (X-ray, MRI, tomography, etc.) to model the production of medical implants through additive manufacturing. Into the object, sometimes the medical implant can be manufactured within 24 hours. The advantages of additive manufacturing in the medical industry are: Personalization: Customized prostheses/implants shorten the patient's pain and stressful adaptation phase. The optimal fit size also reduces the difficulty of surgery and reduces the pressure on the surgeon. Complex geometries: Some free structures cannot be manufactured by traditional manufacturing methods (milling, turning or casting, etc.), and complex structures that mimic the bionic principle can speed up the healing process of patients. These complex bionics are only manufactured by additive manufacturing. Way to achieve. Functional Integration: Additive manufacturing medical devices are capable of meeting the manufacture of multiple functional implants and reducing manufacturing steps. It may have a porous structure and a rough surface to improve osseointegration. No further spraying or surface texturing post processing is required. Reduced surgical costs: faster implant production speeds, more accommodating dimensions, faster surgery and recovery, better human environmental compatibility, and reduced follow-up treatment requirements, which significantly reduce the cost of hospitalization and follow-up treatment. Bone tissue The main types of bone tissue include trabecular bone (cancellous) and cortical bone (compact): Most of the bones of the outer cortex (cortex) formed by cortical bone account for about 80% of the weight of human bones. It is dense and therefore relatively hard, strong and stiff. Compared with cortical bone, trabecular bone density is small. It has a high surface area and mass ratio, is softer, weaker and more flexible. The trabecular bone is usually at the end of the long bone, the proximal joint and the inside of the spine. The trabecular bone surface is covered with blood vessels, suitable for metabolic activities, often containing red bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. Plastic is a commonly used implant, but it is not conducive to bone recovery because the bone is not attached to it. Most other implants on the market are made of a large amount of metal and are therefore rigid and not easily deformed. The design freedom of additive manufacturing allows the metal material to be redistributed according to the truss structure, which is not only strong but also has sufficient elastic deformation space, which easily triggers osteoblast reaction, which means bone formation. Orthopedic market segment The market for medical implants is a growing field of application and innovation. It is divided into three main categories of implants: joints, spine and wounds. + Joint replacement remains the largest market segment Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure that restores the integrity and functionality of the joint. In this process, artificial joints can be used. The market for reconstructed joint replacement is on the rise, due to the increasing number of people with injured or degenerated joints, and another reason for the aging population. The deformation caused by arthritis in the knees and buttocks is very fragile. They account for the vast majority of reconstructed joint replacements. Other reconstructive joint replacements are the shoulder system. + Spinal implants grow rapidly Due to long periods of irregular formalities sitting in the office and other reasons, the market demand for spinal implants continues to rise, such as cages, artificial discs and improved procedures for repairing spinal, spinal cord injuries or abnormalities, as well as replacement of degenerative discs. . + trauma implant The plate screw system is the most commonly used method of internal fixation for the treatment of traumatic fractures, and this market demand is also rising. Benefits of the main types of implants made from metal additive Metal additive manufacturing combines the biocompatibility of titanium materials with the flexibility of plastic PEEK materials. The porous titanium cage uses SLM for fast bone growth and excellent mechanical stability, which is better than the traditional PEEK cage. The specific density distribution increases the flexibility of the titanium part, and the high strength of the titanium allows for integration of the sidewall detection window of the implant. Bone growth can be assessed by medical imaging, and the geometric freedom and functional integration of additive manufacturing provides a new option for spinal reconstruction. Customized intervertebral disc prosthesis The artificial disc device that can be inserted into the intervertebral disc space can be precisely sized to the patient's anatomical size and the additive manufacturing can also avoid downstream assembly processes. Wound implants, rich and personalized experience The purpose of wound implants is to treat fractures, deformities, and tumors of bones such as arms, legs, shoulders, or skulls. Skull implant The requirements for placement in the manufacture of skull implants are stringent. Because the skull has a unique irregular shape, it is difficult to standardize. Natural skull implants require biocompatibility, with the fit and induction of bone ingrowth into the edge of the implant. And the requirement is permeable to allow passage of brain fluid. Additive manufacturing has been used to produce implants for patients with craniofacial surgery and to provide optimal size, shape and mechanical properties. Internal fixture The bone plate is a device that is fixed to the fractured bone. Bone anatomy is extremely complex in some areas and takes into account the direction and distortion of the bend. Precisely geometric bone plates and digital pre-planned drop screws provide the patient with a better connection plate and a good recovery foundation. Allows the surgeon to perform low-invasive surgery with minimal scarring, shorter wound opening times, and shorter recovery times. Chainsaw,Electric Chainsaw,Homelite Chainsaw,Cordless Chainsaw Shaoxing Haotuo Machinery Co., Ltd. , https://www.haotuochinatools.com
Metal 3D printing: a good medicine for medical orthopedic implants!