Anchor for an implant assembly

1. A medical device, comprising:

an implant anchor comprising first and second opposing end portions, said implant anchor further comprising:

a fixation element configured to couple said implant anchor to an implant;

a shank; and

an anchor element integrally coupled to said shank, said anchor element configured to couple said implant anchor to bone;

wherein at least a portion of said implant anchor has a porous structure.

2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

said fixation element has a non-porous-structure.

3. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

said second end portion of said implant anchor comprises said anchor element; and

at least a portion of said anchor element is formed by said porous structure.

4. The medical device of claim 3 , wherein:

said anchor element of said implant anchor comprises a threaded portion; and

at least a portion of said threaded portion is formed by said porous structure.

5. The medical device of claim 4 , wherein:

said threaded portion of said implant anchor comprises a threaded shank; and

at least a portion of said threaded shank is formed by said porous structure.

6. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein:

said threaded shank of said implant anchor comprises a screw thread;

at least a portion of said screw thread is formed by said porous structure.

7. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein:

said threaded shank of said implant anchor comprises a screw thread;

at least a portion of said screw thread is formed by a non-porous structure.

8. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein:

said threaded shank of said implant anchor comprises a shank root; and

at least a portion of said shank root is formed by said porous structure.

9. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

said porous structure is formed by metal particles.

10. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

said porous structure is formed by a plurality of layers of metal particles.

11. The medical device of claim 10 , wherein:

said metal particles comprise metal powder.

12. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

said porous structure comprises a skeletal framework and a plurality of interstices arranged in an orderly geometric pattern of repeating unit cells.

13. The medical device of claim 12 , wherein:

said repeating cell unit is a dodecahedron.

14. The medical device of claim 12 , wherein:

said skeletal framework is formed by a plurality of struts; and

said struts have a thickness in a range of 150 μm to 300 μm.

15. The medical device of claim 12 , wherein:

said interstices have a size in a range of 240 μm to 730 μm.

16. The medical device of claim 12 , wherein:

said porous structure has a porosity in a range of 55% to 75%.

17. The medical device of claim 12 , wherein:

said porous structure comprises a plurality of layers.

18. The medical device of claim 17 , wherein:

said plurality of layers form a three-dimensional, multi-layered mesh or lattice structure.

19. The medical device of claim 12 , wherein:

said porous structure forms at least a portion of a threaded shank.

20. The medical device of claim 19 , wherein:

said porous structure forms a shank root of said threaded shank.

21. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising an implant configured to be coupled said implant anchor.

22. The medical device of claim 21 , wherein said implant includes a load bearing surface, a bone facing surface, and a fixation element configured to be coupled to said fixation element of said implant anchor.

23. The medical device of claim 22 , wherein said fixation elements of said implant and said implant anchor include mating tapered surfaces configured to form a frictional connection therebetween.

24. A medical device, comprising:

an implant including a load bearing surface, a bone facing surface, and a first fixation element; and

an implant anchor comprising first and second opposing end portions, said implant anchor further comprising:

a second fixation element to configured to engage said first fixation element to couple said implant anchor to an implant;

an elongated shank; and

an anchor element integrally coupled to said elongated shank, said anchor element configured to couple said implant anchor to bone;

wherein at least a portion of said implant anchor has a porous structure.

25. The medical device of claim 24 , wherein said implant anchor includes a longitudinally disposed passageway.

26. A medical device, comprising:

an implant anchor, wherein said implant anchor comprises a shank having first and second opposing end portions;

wherein said first end portion of said implant anchor comprises a fixation element to connect said implant anchor to an implant; and

wherein at least said second end portion of said implant anchor comprises an anchor element having a porous structure to connect said implant anchor to bone.