Porous metal structures made from polymer preforms

摘要

The present disclosure relates to porous orthopedic implants made from polymer preforms and a method of manufacturing the same. A polymer material may be formed into a preform, such as by an injection molding process or an additive manufacturing process. In an exemplary embodiment, the overall shape and the porous framework of the preform is predetermined to be substantially the same as the overall shape and the porous framework of the final orthopedic implant. Then, the preform may be pyrolyzed and coated with metal to form the final orthopedic implant.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a porous orthopedic implant comprising the steps of:
forming a polymeric preform in a three-dimensional geometric shape that is substantially the same as the three-dimensional geometric shape of the orthopedic implant, the polymeric preform including a plurality of ligaments defining pores therebetween; after said forming the polymeric preform, pyrolyzing the polymeric preform; and after said pyrolyzing the polymeric preform, coating the pyrolyzed polymeric preform with metal to produce the orthopedic implant.