Use of Additive Techniques for Preparing Individual Components of Titanium Alloy Joint Endoprostheses

Abstract

Additive techniques, particularly selective laser melting (SLM), allow devices of complex shape to be made from a variety of metallic materials. Preparation of individual large joint endoprosthesis components using digital techniques, i.e., computerized tomography, three-dimensional scanning, three-dimensional printing, and subsequent preparation of prostheses from titanium by SLM, allows patients’ individual anatomical features to be taken into account and implants to be personalized, thus improving endoprosthesis implantation results. The present article demonstrates that individual components of a hip joint endoprosthesis can be made using titanium alloy BT6 powder using the patient’s computerized tomography data.