Desing of the algorithm, print and analysis of porous structures with modifiable parameters

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to create an algorithm able to creating a porous structure with variable properties, print and analyze them. The basic concepts related to it were introduced and the process of creating an algorithm in Rhinoceros software was described. Having a suitable test group of porous structures, it was shown that it is possible to modify their porosity. In the next step, the structures were presented for printing and its effect. The obtained physical models were examined by microtomography. The resulting cross-sections were processed in ImageJ software. Having cross-sections of the original bone and printed structures, it was possible to compare their porosity and the average diameter of the trabeculae in the structure. With this procedure, it is possible to deduce whether it is possible to print accurate structures that will serve as porous bone implants. The resulting differential porosity comparison was 2.0–7.5 %, while the thickness was about 18–35 %.

Keywords

• porous
• bone
• Voronoi
• Rhinoceros
• Grasshopper
• implants