Design of orthopedic implants made of porous metallic materials using additive manufacturing technologies

随着患者变得更加年轻和活跃，骨科植入物的长期生存仍然是一个挑战。影响植入物寿命的一个因素是骨吸收，据信是由于应力屏蔽造成的。骨骼是一种活组织，对机械刺激有反应。当骨头被取出，被人工植入物取代时，骨骼内的应力发生了重新分布。这种应力遮挡现象的发生是因为金属种植体和周围骨之间的硬度差异很大。因此，骨被应力遮挡，因此骨被吸收，其密度降低，最终导致关节置换失败。需要新的材料来模拟天然骨，以减少应力屏蔽现象。

Long-term survivorship of orthopedic implants remains a challenge as patients are becoming younger and more active. One factor compromising the longevity of the implant is bone resorption believed to be due to stress shielding. Bone is a living tissue and reacts to its mechanical stimuli. When bone is removed to be replaced by an artificial implant, a redistribution of the stresses within the bone occurs. This stress shielding phenomenon occurs because of the large difference in rigidity between the metallic implant and the surrounding bone. The bone is thus stress shielded, consequently the bone is resorbed and its density decreased, eventually leading to failure of the arthroplasty. New materials are needed to mimic the natural bone to reduce the stress shielding phenomenon.