Research progress on the design and performance of porous titanium alloy bone implants

Abstract

The porous structure design of implants can not only obtain a more lightweight implant but also provide more space for its cell growth. The technology development of additive manufacturing (AM) offers an effective way for customized porous implants. To explore the suitable porous titanium bone implants made by AM, this paper reviews the research progress in the designing and manufacturing performance of porous titanium alloy implants, which are manufactured by AM. The design parameters that affect the bone ingrowth performance are analyzed, including the porosity, shape, and aperture of the pore. Based on the current technology trend, the future development of bone implants in advanced multi-materials, design methods, and post-treatment methods is prospected.

Keywords

• Additive manufacturing
• Bone growth
• Porous structures
• Implant