Hd Lifesciences LLC

Nanohive Medical LLC

Jason Tinley

Kevin D Chappuis

Ian Helmar

Lucas Diehl

John F Sullivan

Christopher L Jones

Christopher Laine

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.

Dynamic implant fixation plate

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.

Anisotropic biocompatible lattice structure

The present invention includes a fluid interface system for use in medical implants. The fluid interface system of the present invention can include one or more fluid interface channels disposed within an implant. The fluid interface systems can optionally include fluid redirection channels, fluid interface ports and a corresponding instrument to transfer fluid in or out of the fluid interface ports.

Fluid interface system for implants

In some aspects, the present invention is a medical implant with an independent endplate structure that can stimulate bone or tissue growth in or around the implant. When used as a scaffold for bone growth, the inventive structure can increase the strength of new bone growth. The independent endplate structures generally include implants with endplates positioned on opposite sides of the implant and capable of at least some movement relative to one another. In most examples, the endplates have a higher elastic modulus than that of the bulk of the implant to allow the use of an implant with a low elastic modulus, without risk of damage from the patient's bone. A method of designing independent endplate implants is also disclosed, including ranges of elastic moduli for the endplates and bulk of the implant for given implant parameters. Implants with elastic moduli within the ranges disclosed herein can optimize the loading of new bone growth to provide increased bone strength.

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Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Jason Tinley