DIRECT MANUFACTURING OF CUSTOMIZED IMPLANTS FROM BIOMETALS, BY 3D PRINTING.

The article highlights the main steps in directly obtaining of customized medical implants made of biometals, starting from computer tomography scanning of the patient up to the proper individualised implant, fabricate by Additive Manufacturing. To detail the entire design-manufacturing method, a 3D model was designed with specific software's, the osseous reconstruction was manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) and post-processed. In order to investigate the surface of titanium implant, scanning electronic microscopy was used. The research exhibits a good SLM manufacturing practice regarding a zygomatic reconstruction implant. The advantages of customized implants are accurate, having aesthetic and functional results. This procedure described bellow could reduce the surgery and recovery time, and it could significantly improve the patient's life quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]