PROGRAMMABLE IMPLANT HAVING STRUTS WITH DIFFERENT PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Various embodiments of implant systems and related apparatus, and methods of operating the same are described herein. In various embodiments, an implant for interfacing with a bone structure includes a web structure, including a space truss, configured to interface with human bone tissue. The space truss includes two or more planar truss units having a plurality of struts joined at nodes. Implants are optimized for the expected stress applied at the bone structure site.
1 - 45 . (canceled)
46 . An implant for interfacing with a bone structure, comprising:
a web structure comprising a plurality of struts joined at nodes, wherein the web structure is configured to interface with human bone tissue, the web structure comprising a first bone contact surface and a second bone contact surface;
wherein a first portion of struts that comprise the space truss have a physical property that is different from a second portion of the struts that comprise the space truss.
47 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein the first portion of struts that comprise the space truss have a deformation strength that is different from the second portion of the struts that comprise the space truss.
48 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein the space truss comprises one or more central struts extending from the first bone contact surface to the second bone contact surface, wherein the central struts have a deformation strength that is greater than or less than the surrounding struts.
49 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein the space truss comprises one or more longitudinal struts extending parallel to the first bone contact surface and/or the second bone contact surface, wherein the longitudinal struts have a deformation strength that is greater than or less than the surrounding struts.
50 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein the diameter of the first portion of the struts is greater than a diameter of the second portion of the struts.
51 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein the first portion of struts are formed from a material that is different from the material used to form the second portion of struts.
52 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein one part of the implant has density of struts that is different from the density of the second portion of implant.
53 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein the first portion of struts have a porosity that is different from the porosity of the second portion of struts.
54 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein the at least some of the struts define triangular trusses having at least one node shared by two different triangular planar truss units having different corresponding angles.
55 . The implant of claim 46 , wherein the. web structure comprises a space truss comprising two or more planar truss units.
56 . The implant of claim 55 , wherein one or more of the planar truss units comprise one or more planar triangular truss units having three substantially straight struts and three nodes in a triangular configuration.
57 . The implant of claim 55 , wherein one or more of the planar truss units are coupled to one another such that one or more planar truss units lie in a plane that is not substantially parallel to a plane of a planar truss unit that shares at least one strut with the one or more planar truss units.
58 . The implant of claim 55 , wherein one or more of the planar truss units define an exterior surface of the web structure.
59 . The implant of claim 55 , wherein one or more of the planar truss units comprises a first planar triangular truss unit coupled to a second planar triangular truss unit, wherein the first and second planar triangular truss units are coupled in an opposing manner with a single node defining the apex of each planar triangular truss unit.
60 . A method of repairing a bone structure, comprising:
obtaining an implant, the implant comprising:
a web structure comprising a plurality of struts joined at nodes, wherein the web structure is configured to interface with human bone tissue, the web structure comprising a first bone contact surface and a second bone contact surface;
wherein a first portion of struts that comprise the space truss have a physical property that is different from a second portion of the struts that comprise the space truss;
coupling the implant to the bone structure.
61 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the first portion of struts that comprise the space truss have a deformation strength that is different from the second portion of the struts that comprise the space truss.
62 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the space truss comprises one or more central struts extending from the first bone contact surface to the second bone contact surface, wherein the central struts have a deformation strength that is greater than or less than the surrounding struts.
63 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the space truss comprises one or more longitudinal struts extending parallel to the first bone contact surface and/or the second bone contact surface, wherein the longitudinal struts have a deformation strength that is greater than or less than surrounding struts.
64 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the diameter of the first portion of the struts is greater or less than a diameter of the second portion of the struts.
65 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the first portion of the struts are formed from a material that is different from the material used to form the second portion of struts.
66 . The method of claim 60 , wherein one part of the implant has density of struts that is different from the density of the second part of implant.
67 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the first portion of struts have a porosity that is different from the porosity of the second portion of struts.
68 . (canceled)
69 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the. web structure comprises a space truss comprising two or more planar truss units.
70 - 81 . (canceled)