Introduction

The invention describes an innovative 3D-printed highly porous titanium vertebral prosthesis, designed using auxetic metamaterials. This prosthesis can be used as a bone replacement prosthetic in the oncologic field following a total Vertebral Boby Replacement (VBR) surgery.

Technical features

The invention refers to a novel additevely manufactured, minimally-invasive, titanium vertebral prosthesis in case of total Vertebral Body Replacement (VBR), made from bio-grade auxetic metamaterial, which exhibits biomechanical properties similar to those of human lumbar vertebral bones. This implant consists of three distinct design elements: an external vertebral shell, an highly porous cellular lattice (both made using auxetic metamaterial), and a pair of vertebral end-plates that act as an interface between the prosthesis and adjacent healthy tissues. This prosthesis manifests a global auxetic behavior and is able to adapt its structural response in relation to the extent of the load acting along the system, thus reducing the stress-shielding phenomena due to its low elastic modulus, whilst increasing the bone ingrowth inside the cellular scaffold.

Possible Applications

• Vertebral body replacement implants;
• Vertebral prosthesis in the pediatric oncological field.

Advantages

• To increase bone ingrowth;
• To decrease stress-shielding phenomena;
• To reduce the stiffness of the implant;
• To avoid any interference with the spinal cord;
• To avoid the subsidence of the prosthesis.