Nanohive Medical LLC

Christopher Laine

John F Sullivan

Kevin D Chappuis

Lucas Diehl

Ian Helmar

Jason Tinley

Christine Emery

The methods disclosed herein of generating three-dimensional lattice structures and reducing stress shielding have applications including use in medical implants. One method of generating a three-dimensional lattice structure can be used to generate a structure lattice and/or a lattice scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. One method of reducing stress shielding includes generating a structural lattice to provide sole mechanical spacing across an area for desired bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. Some methods are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

Methods of designing three-dimensional lattice structures for implants

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. The lattice structures are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

Three-dimensional lattice structures for implants

The biocompatible lattice structures disclosed herein with an increased or optimized lucency are prepared according to multiple methods of design disclosed herein. The methods allow for the design of a metallic material with sufficient strength for use in an implant and that remains radiolucent for x-ray imaging.

Methods of designing high x-ray lucency lattice structures

The biocompatible lattice structures and implants disclosed herein have an increased or optimized lucency, even when constructed from a metallic material. The lattice structures can also provide an increased or optimized lucency in a material that is not generally considered to be radiolucent. Lucency can include disparity, maximum variation in lucency properties across a structure, or dispersion, minimum variation in lucency properties across a structure. The implants and lattice structures disclosed herein may be optimized for disparity or dispersion in any desired direction. A desired direction with respect to lucency can include the anticipated x-ray viewing direction of an implant in the expected implantation orientation.

Implant with independent endplates

The variable or adjustable depth medical implants in this application are capable of depth adjustment prior to implantation. The variable depth implants permit a single implant to provide multiple footprint configurations, allowing a surgeon footprint adjustability in the operating room. The implants can comprise a metallic lattice designed for specific physical properties, such as an elastic modulus. In some examples, the main body of the implant is taller than the adjustable portion of the implant (also referred to as the second implant body) so that the physical properties of the main body of the implant are controlling at the implant site. In some embodiments, the variable implant is constructed in an additive process as a single unit.

Variable depth implants

The dynamic implant fixation plate and implant configured to accept the disclosed fixation plate can, in some aspects, provide a means of fixing an implant relative one or more planes while allowing motion relative to one or more planes. The use of the disclosed fixation plate and corresponding implant can reduce the occurrence of stress shielding and permit enhanced loading of the implant site.

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Bellingham, MA, United States of America

Christopher Laine