US 12,357,726 B2
Methods for developing porous implants of optimal properties
Peter Halverson, Draper, UT (US); and David T. Hawkes, Pleasant Grove, UT (US)
Assigned to Nexus Spine, LLC, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed by Nexus Spine, LLC, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/528,586.
Application 18/528,586 is a continuation of application No. 16/813,720, filed on Mar. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,833,267.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/815,256, filed on Mar. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0100219 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61L 27/06 (2006.01); A61L 27/36 (2006.01); A61L 27/56 (2006.01); B22F 10/20 (2021.01); B22F 10/38 (2021.01); B33Y 50/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); G06T 19/20 (2011.01); G16C 20/10 (2019.01); G16C 20/30 (2019.01)
CPC A61L 27/06 (2013.01) [A61L 27/365 (2013.01); A61L 27/56 (2013.01); B22F 10/38 (2021.01); B33Y 50/00 (2014.12); G06T 19/20 (2013.01); G16C 20/10 (2019.02); G16C 20/30 (2019.02); A61L 2420/02 (2013.01); A61L 2430/02 (2013.01); B22F 10/20 (2021.01); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); G06T 2219/2021 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for creating a porous implant, the method comprising: performing the following in a virtual design space using one or more processors:
defining a first design volume to represent a porous implant;
defining an objective function solution characteristic;
removing portions of the first design volume to create first voids in the first design volume;
defining the first voids in the first design volume as a second design volume;
removing portions of the second design volume to create second voids in the second design volume until the second design volume with the second voids satisfies the objective function solution characteristic; and
combining the second design volume with the second voids with the first design volume with the first voids to create a final design of the porous implant; and
creating the porous implant from the final design, wherein the creating the porous implant from the final design comprises creating a physical structure corresponding with the second design volume combined with the first design volume, the physical structure defining pores that correspond with the second voids.