Lincotek’s Medical Division has secured a patent for a new 3D printed orthopedic screw featuring an integrated lattice structure designed to enhance bone ingrowth and stability. The newly granted patent (US 12,171,464 B2) introduces a customizable screw concept, allowing modifications based on patient anatomy and surgical needs.
This innovative design has applications across multiple orthopedic procedures, including spinal surgeries, sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion, treatment for avascular necrosis (AVN), and other reconstructive procedures. By leveraging additive manufacturing, Lincotek has developed an orthopedic implant that provides unmatched flexibility and biological fixation, ensuring both short-term stability and long-term osseointegration.
The patented 3D printed screw integrates a porous lattice design, optimizing mechanical properties for specific anatomical applications. Unlike traditional titanium bone screws, which rely solely on bone ongrowth, this innovative design fosters bone ingrowth, significantly reducing micro-motion and enhancing implant stability.
Surgeons and OEM partners can tailor the screw’s characteristics to fit specific surgical applications. The screw design allows for various thread profiles, including self-tapping, cortical, and cancellous threads, ensuring adaptability for different bone densities. Shaft diameters can also be adjusted for precision fitment in different anatomical structures. Internal channels can be incorporated for localized drug delivery or electrical stimulation, enhancing post-surgical healing. The enhanced porous design supports faster bone growth by optimizing load sharing with the host bone.
“Finding the right balance between load sharing with host bone, structural stability and facilitating bone ingrowth is the key to a successful implant,” said Mukesh Kumar, Technology and R&D Director at the Medical Division of Lincotek. “Conventional bone screws are machined out of titanium and have a smoother surface. They have a solid construction with only bone ongrowth facilitating recovery – in this case, recovery depends entirely on eliminating micro-motion. With our new patented 3D printed screw, there’s a support system to allow the body to form new bone tissue and evoke bone ingrowth as a means to prevent micro-motion. We feel it will be of great interest for reconstruction applications, as well as hip and spine customers. Our design engineers can tailor the proportions of porous region, threads, shape, and structure to the central shaft to design for the specific bone site.”
Lincotek’s patented screw design revolutionizes the way orthopedic implants are produced. The technology allows for both patient-specific implants and scalable mass production, streamlining manufacturing efficiency. Eliminating the need for complex assembly reduces clinical risks associated with implant disassembly, ensuring greater patient safety. The porous and solid regions of the screw are strategically designed to maintain structural integrity while promoting biological integration.
