Fabrication of patient-specific finger joint implants from Ti-6Al-4V using metal binder jetting

Abstract

Developing personalized medical solutions is crucial for preserving patient comfort and joint mobility. Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ) offers unique advantages for industrializing custom-made and patient-specific implants. This paper discusses the MBJ process, its challenges, and proposed approaches to address them. Specifically, the binder jetting process route used in a research project for finger joint implants is examined. Challenges related to powder flowability, powder reactivity, and the impact of atmosphere during curing are highlighted. The successful manufacturing of implants using MBJ is presented, along with the need for further investigations to optimize powder flowability, reduce waste rates, and enhance material properties. The potential of MBJ in the medical sector and the importance of powder recycling are emphasized as future research directions.

Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Fraunhofer Internal Programs under Grant No. PREPARE 840226.

Author’s statement
Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest. Informed consent: Informed consent has been obtained from all individuals included in this study. Ethical approval: The research related to human use complies with all the relevant national regulations, institutional policies and was performed in accordance with the tenets of the Helsinki Declaration, and has been approved by the authors’ institutional review board or equivalent committee.