Method for manufacturing an articular prosthesis implant using a ceramic imprint

1. A method for manufacturing an articular prosthesis implant ( 3 ) comprising the following steps:

heating to a malleability temperature a thermoplastic material used to form at least partially the articular prosthesis implant ( 3 );

pressing the thermoplastic material inside a cavity of a mould by using a ceramic imprint ( 1 ) moved by a piston ( 2 ), so that the thermoplastic material flows inside the cavity of the mould and takes the shape of the ceramic imprint ( 1 );

allowing the thermoplastic material to cool down;

extracting the articular prosthesis implant ( 3 ) obtained from the cavity of the mould;

wherein the ceramic imprint includes a ceramic surface designed to come in contact with the pressed thermoplastic material to form the articular prosthesis implant.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from a material selected from the group consisting of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK).

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a metal base ( 5 ), against which the thermoplastic material is pressed, is introduced into the cavity of the mould.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic imprint is made from a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, composite, zirconia, and ceramic zirconium oxide.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the piston and the ceramic imprint form a monobloc element.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic imprint includes a stop against which the piston presses during the movement of the ceramic imprint.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further including the step of introducing a metal base into the cavity of the ceramic imprint prior to the pressing step, wherein the thermoplastic material is pressed against the metal base.