Investigation of Ti64 sheathed cellular anatomical structure as a tibia implant

Abstract

In order to reduce stress shielding following a segmental bone replacement surgery requires stiffness matching strategies between the host bone and the implant are required. Carefully engineered implant geometry that can mimic the mechanical performance of the host bone is required to achieve this. The development of Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) techniques such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) allows for the fabrication of complex geometries that can achieve targeted mechanical performance. Consequently, this work introduces a sheathed Ti6Al4V additively manufactured tibial implant that mimics the circumferential anatomy of the host bone. Performance evaluation of the implant was carried using experimental and numerical technique under axial compression. Furthermore, the influence of sheathing strategy and sheath thickness on the compressive performance of the implant is parametrically analysed. The results of this study shows a promising sheathed implant that can replace a defective tibia bone segment. The implant is superior to conventional porous implants as it allows for easy implantation in surgical operation and allows for the reduction of stress shielding.