Implants

Our range of services

In hospitals, patient-specific implants are often required, in particular, as a result of accidents, tumor resections or congenital defects. Developed at Fraunhofer ILT, Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) can be used to produce individual bioresorbable implants accurately with very large geometric freedom. In addition, the use of the laser significantly reduces time and costs. On the basis of patient-specific data, for example, individual dentures, artificial hip joints or customized bone substitutes can be manufactured using this laser-based 3D printing. Re-sizing or removing implants are not needed thanks to the use of bioresorbable materials.

Complex internal structures can be used to produce implants with bone-adapted stiffness. By integrating defined pores, research has been able to improve the ingrowth behavior of the bone. For example, Fraunhofer ILT is working with medical professionals to develop additively manufactured vertebral body implants that are individually designed and locally adapted for their geometry, rigidity and structure. This significantly reduces the implant failure of cages – inserts for intervertebral spaces.

The range of services includes constructive design, individualized design and process development for the additive manufacturing of (individual) implants using LPBF within the framework of feasibility studies as well as individual consultation.

Individualisierte Dentalkronen und -käppchen.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Individualisierte Dentalkronen und -käppchen.
3D network structure (strut thickness < 100 μm).
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
3D network structure (strut thickness < 100 μm).
Individualisiertes Jochbeinimplantat mit interkonnektiver Porenstruktur.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Individualisiertes Jochbeinimplantat mit interkonnektiver Porenstruktur.

Additive Manufacturing of Medical Implants by LPBF

  • Manufacture of  individual implants out of titanium and TiAl6V4
  • Realization of new implant design, e. g. with complex surface or porous structure

Process Development for Bioresorbable Material

  • Stents out of polylactide
  • Bone implants out of calcium-phosphate ceramic

Studies for Admission Procedure

  • Biocompatibility
  • Mechanical properties
  • Process chain examination
  • Risk analysis

Brochures

Our brochures offer a quick view onto our service portfolio. Find more detailed information in the “project results“ tab.

 

“Process Development for Laser Powder Bed Fusion“

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Video: A Defining Patent - 25 Years of Metallic 3D Laser Printing

A drone hovers in the sky above the Fraunhofer ILT. It films 50 employees from the “Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF)” department from above as they stand together and form the number 25. The anniversary of the basic patent for LPBF marks an occasion for a video clip: 25 years ago, only one Fraunhofer ILT researcher was actively working on the project and the patent for metallic 3D laser printing was filed in 1996. “This is an auspicious occasion for a retrospective and outlook on our technology,” Jasmin Saewe says, pleased. She has been head of the LPBF competence area at Fraunhofer ILT for several months. Today, she is in charge of around 50 employees and students.

Further information:

Markets

Laser technology can solve demanding tasks in many different industries. Whether as a tool in automotive production, as measuring equipment in the environmental sector, as a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument in medical technology or as a communication medium in space technology, the laser provides multiple uses with high productivity and high efficiency.

Read up about the innovations of the Fraunhofer ILT in a few selected industries and convince yourself!

 

Research with us!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about general topics! Our contact persons are happy to get in touch with you.

Publications

Flege, C., Vogt, F., Höges, S., Jauer, L., Borinski, L., Schulte, V., Hoffmann, R., Poprawe, R., Meiners, W., Jobmann, M., Wissenbach, K., Blindt, R.:
Development and characterization of a coronary polylactic acid stent prototype generated by selective laser melting
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine,
DOI: 10.1007/s10856-012-4779-z (2012)

Lindner, M., Hoeges, S., Meiners, W., Wissenbach, K., Smeets, R., Telle, R., Poprawe, R., Fischer, H.:
Manufacturing of individual biodegradable bone substitute implants using selective laser melting technique. 
J. Biomed. Mat. Res. A 97 A, Nr. 4, 466-472, 2011

Facchini, L., Magalini, E., Robotti, P., Molinari, A., Höges, S., Wissenbach, K.
Ductility of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy produced by selective laser melting of prealloyed powders
Rapid Prototyping Journal 16, Nr. 6
450 – 459, 2010

Höges, S.
Entwicklung des Selective Laser Melting zur Verarbeitung bioresorbierbarer medizinischer Werkstoffe
Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University
2010

Höges, S., Lindner, M., Fischer, H., Meiners, W., Wissenbach, K.
Manufacturing of bone substitute implants using selective laser melting
4th European Conference of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (ECIFMBE), 2008, Antwerp
2009

Höges, S., Lindner, M., Meiners, W., Smeets, R.
Bioresorbable Implants Using Selective Laser Melting
21st Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF), 2010, Austin
2010

Höges, S., Meiners, W.
SLM von Polylactiden zur Herstellung von resorbierbaren Implantaten
RTejournal - Forum für Rapid Technologie Jun 09, Nr. 6
2009

Lindner, M., Hoeges, S., Meiners, W., Wissenbach, K., Smeets, R., Telle, R., Poprawe, R., Fischer, H.
Manufacturing of individual biodegradable bone substitute implants using selective laser melting technique
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A 97, Nr. 4
466 – 471, 2011

Morsbach, C., Höges, S., Meiners, W.
Modeling the selective laser melting of polyactide composite materials
Journal of laser applications : JLA 23, Nr. 1
2011

Our services cover a wide range of topics. Related topics to implants processing and further research and development focuses can be found under the following links.