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IMR & Renishaw Streamline the Additive Manufacturing of Spinal Implants
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Generative AI
- Other - Additive Manufacturing
Applicable Industries
- Aerospace
- Automotive
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Additive Manufacturing
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
The project aimed to create a spinal implant that could restore intervertebral height in patients suffering from various spinal conditions such as degenerative intervertebral disc disease, vertebral fusion, spondylolisthesis, herniated disc, osteoporosis, and spinal stenosis. The challenge was to develop an implant with a porous lattice that promotes osseointegration and vascularization while matching the mechanical properties of bone. Additionally, the design process needed to be efficient and error-free to reduce time-to-market and ensure high-quality outcomes.
About The Customer
IMR and Renishaw collaborated to leverage the design optimization capabilities of nTopology for developing unique and lightweight spinal implants. IMR, known for its expertise in medical device manufacturing, partnered with Renishaw, a leader in additive manufacturing technology, to address the complex requirements of spinal implants. The collaboration aimed to create a device that could help restore intervertebral height in patients suffering from various spinal conditions. The project focused on developing an additively manufactured spinal implant with a porous lattice that promotes osseointegration and vascularization, matching the mechanical properties of bone. The partnership between IMR and Renishaw highlights their commitment to innovation and excellence in the medical device industry.
The Solution
IMR utilized nTopology to control all design aspects of the spinal implant throughout the development process. The engineering team was able to vary design parameters in a spatially precise manner and use physical fields, such as pressure and strain across the implant volume, to optimize the design. This allowed them to arrive at an optimum osseointegration lattice pore size. IMR developed seven concepts that went through the complete design cycle, with multiple iterations in each cycle. nTopology enabled the team to expedite the design process by allowing quick and effective adjustments to design parameters. Additionally, the engineers sliced their designs in nTopology and exported the data directly to the native file format used by Renishaw’s build preparation software. This streamlined the transition from design to manufacturing, reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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