Himed LLC, a biomaterials firm specializing in titanium floor remedies, has printed new findings evaluating abrasive blasting strategies for post-processing 3D printed medical implants. The corporate evaluated aluminum oxide, glass bead, and apatitic abrasives on 3D printed Ti64 spinal spacers, assessing every methodology’s capability to take away residual construct materials whereas preserving a biocompatible floor. Solely the apatitic abrasive, a calcium phosphate-based medium, left behind a clear titanium floor after ASTM F86 passivation.
Additively manufactured titanium implants incessantly retain loosely certain spherical particles on each exterior and inside surfaces. These residual beads, which consequence from the 3D printing course of, are seen underneath scanning electron microscopy and may stay lodged in porous lattice constructions. If left untreated, they pose a danger of detachment throughout packaging or after implantation. Floor ending is due to this fact required to eradicate this particles whereas preserving implant geometry and optimizing the floor for osseointegration.
SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) evaluation carried out by Himed revealed that each aluminum oxide and glass bead blasting take away residual titanium beads however introduce new contaminants. As a result of its excessive hardness ranking of 9 on the Mohs scale, aluminum oxide embeds into the titanium floor throughout software. These abrasive remnants can’t be eliminated utilizing ultrasonic cleansing or acid baths. Glass bead blasting, whereas much less aggressive, additionally ends in silica-based particulates embedded within the implant floor. EDX spectra confirmed that each strategies alter the floor composition of titanium implants, elevating considerations about long-term organic compatibility.
A 2019 literature evaluate printed in JMIR Biomedical Engineering famous that implant floor roughness performs a big position in bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and mechanical fixation. Strategies equivalent to grit blasting and acid etching have been proven to enhance osseointegration by creating micro- and nanoscale textures that encourage osteoblast exercise. Nevertheless, the evaluate additionally emphasised that inconsistencies in floor chemistry—equivalent to these launched by embedded blasting media—might compromise outcomes. Biocompatible supplies like calcium phosphates have been recognized as favorable for floor modification attributable to their resorbability and osteoconductive properties.
Himed’s apatitic abrasive, marketed as MATRIX MCD, consists of hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate. Designed to be totally soluble, it leaves no hint residue after passivation. Initially developed to be used on dental implants previous to hydroxyapatite coating, the abrasive is now utilized to 3D printed orthopedic elements. Accessible in particle sizes right down to
Changes to particle dimension, blast strain, and period enable management over the ensuing floor roughness, which ranged between 1.0 and three.2 μm Ra within the examine. This roughness vary aligns with printed targets for selling cell adhesion and tissue integration. Not like more durable abrasives, the calcium phosphate formulation refines the floor with out altering the implant’s geometry or vital tolerances. Submit-processing with MATRIX MCD preserved the unique design options whereas eliminating bead residue and avoiding secondary contamination, in keeping with EDX scans.
Himed has spent three many years refining the manufacturing and software of MCD apatitic abrasives throughout dental and orthopedic markets. With the elevated use of lattice-based designs in 3D printed implants, the power to take away construct residue with out compromising biocompatibility or floor purity is turning into a vital requirement for medical gadget producers.
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Featured picture showcase SEM imagery of a 3d printed Ti64 spinal spacer following abrasive blasting with aluminum oxide grit. Photograph through Himed, LLC.
