Porous Gradient Implant for Mandible and Craniofacial Surgery

Abstract

Non metallic materials like polyurethane has been successfully used for bone reconstruction in general and specifically in craniofacial and in mandible surgeries as an implantable material. However, any polymer alone cannot be universally successful as a medical device or structural implant because the eventual lack of well defined porous geometry, inherent interconnected porosity, the non dispensable need for a combined mechanical behavior with biological interaction and manufacturing feasibility. In this work, a bioactive material composite with high mechanical strength was designed using a castor oil polyurethane (PU) structure with a functional gradient having a dense core and a porous bioactive surface. The models and replicas for the implants were processed with Rapid Prototyping (RP) techniques and their application (case studies) were fulfilled according to the SUS (Brazilian Health Service) with the support of Santa Tereza Hospital, Petropolis, RJ.