Precision powder injection molded implant with preferentially leached

Abstract

An implant component adapted for bone attachment or replacement is molded from a feed stock which contains a soluble major binder, a backbone binder and structural powder material. After the feed stock is injection molded to form a compact or preform, the major binder is removed from the green article, leaving a structure of interconnected porosity or texture, while the backbone binder remains until the component is sintered. Preferably, the amount of the soluble binder is set to increase the porosity, or reduce the stiffness, of the finished component, thus introducing a biocompatible or growth-enhancing level of porosity or stiffness during the molding process. In further or alternative embodiments, the component may be injection molded onto or about a solvent-leachable spacer preform and/or adjacent to another injected or molded portion of the component which serves as a structural body, frame or shell. In these cases, all or a part of the molded portion may be formed with a conventional precision powder molding feed stock to achieve a high packing density/low shrinkage frame or support for the spacer preform or additional porous molding. The invention also includes constructions wherein the component body is injection molded against or about a support core or plate to form a hybrid article. The resulting implant component is unitized by the sintering process into a single article having the desired dimensions, strength and porosity.