Orthopedic implants, as well as surgical instruments, are booming markets in the medical industry. Implant designs are becoming more complex and more effective in terms of ease of installation and patient outcomes, thanks to improvements in implant manufacturing processes. Hot markets include the extremities sector, especially foot and ankle, as well as spinal fusion and fixation devices. Additive manufacturing, both metal and plastic, continues to expand design options, improving implant functionality and complexity. Traditional machining methods also continue to improve, with better controls and higher precision. “In the past, many design compromises were made due to the manufacturability limits for specific geometric features, materials, and surface finishes,” said Bob Tarantino, president of New Jersey Precision Technologies, a Mountainside, N.J.-based manufacturer of medical devices for a variety of applications, including surgical instruments and implants. “Recently, an accelerated pace of design improvement has been driven by improved machining processes in many areas including sinker electrical discharge machining [EDM], wire EDM, five-axis computer numerical control milling, and additive manufacturing with improved post-additive finishing.”

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• Orthopedic Design & Technology

• 6/1/2019

• Article