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Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 3:30 PM
SES 2B.2

Metal Surface Treatment Using Laser Scanning for Optimal Bone-Metal Implant Fixation

K. Sugamoto, M. Hirao, N. Tamai, K. Oka, H. Yoshikawa, Y. Mori, T. Sasaki, Osaka University, Suita City Osaka, Japan

Porous coatings have been applied to the surface of prosthesis, but it cannot regulate the optimal micro-texture of metal surfaces. We recently developed a precisely controllable porous texture technique based on material removal by Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser scanning. Free shapes could be applied to any three-dimensionally complex hard metal surface and the following issues could be quantitatively evaluated: 1) optimal shape for osteo-conduction; 2) optimal shape for bone-metal implant interlocking; 3) differences in speed of osteo-conduction between metals. In this study, a tartan check shapes made by crossing grooves ranged from 100 to 800µm wide with a depth of 500µm or dot shapes made by forming holes with the same widths and depth were produced on Ti6A14V or CoCr metal pieces (diameter, 5 mm; height, 15 mm). The pieces were implanted into rabbit femoral condyles, and the tissues were retrieved 2 or 4 weeks after implantation. The osteo-conduction was quantitatively evaluated by histological analysis and the strength of bone-metal interlocking was also evaluated by pushout testing. Bone tissue with bone trabeculae formed especially in 500µm-wide grooves in both Ti6A14V and CoCr. Speed of osteo-conduction was faster in Ti6A14V than in CoCr. In pushout testing, the tartan check shape made of 500µm-wide grooves had significantly higher bone-metal interface shear strength than the dot shape or commercial porous coating. These results indicate that the tartan check shape made of 500µm-wide grooves on metal surfaces has potential for clinical application in artificial prosthesis design.