DESIGN PROCESS FOR SKELETAL IMPLANTS TO OPTIMIZE CELLULAR RESPONSE

摘要

A method of designing a skeletal implant (10) comprises measuring physical characteristics of the bone to be implanted, generating a macro-design of the implant (10) based on the physical characteristics, and determining a micro-design for the implant (10) to ensure that strain on the bone is kept between 100 micro-strain and 3000 micro-strain to promote bone growth and minimize bone resorption during functional loading. A circular base portion (30) has a crestal end (34), an opposite apical end (36), and a core section (32) intermediate to the crestal (34) and apical (36) ends, and having an outer surface (38). A helical thread (40) extends about a portion of the outer surface (38) of the core section (32). The bone contacting surface area of the thread (40) increases as the thread (40) nears the crestal end (48), thereby increasing the surface area over which force is distributed from the implant (10) to the surrounding bone to minimize resorption of the existing bone and promote growth of new bone tissue adjacent to the device (10).