Automated production of custom bone replacements.

摘要

Bone segments may be lost or damaged due to trauma or tumor. A method to create custom bone replacements based on porous structures formed from composite biomaterials is developed. These replacements are fabricated as shells that allow bone regeneration with controlled geometry. The shell thicknesses are optimized so the bone replacements match the mechanical properties of the original native bone segment. A three dimensional static analysis is performed to compare nodal displacements between the shell and bone segment models under identical load conditions. The replacements are formed from a fiber-reinforced composite material (polylactic acid with resorbable glass fiber). Fiber orientations, modulus ratios, and aspect ratios of reinforcement in the composite shell structure were examined to determine the effect of resorption on overall shell properties. This research resulted in a computationally validated method for design and construction of custom bone replacements that match both geometry and mechanical properties of a missing bone segment.