Manufacturing conditioned wear of all-ceramic knee prostheses

Abstract

To date, bioceramics have not been applied successfully in total knee joint endoprostheses. Sintered bioceramics can be machined only by grinding and polishing processes. Due to high quality requirements, there are significant challenges with regard to these machining technologies. An automated precise economical process chain for the manufacturing of a new all-ceramic knee implant design was developed. It was assumed the geometrical accuracy and the shape of implant contact geometry specified during the manufacturing process has a substantial influence on the wear behavior of the prosthesis. The importance of the surface quality of the ceramic implant surface remains unclear and warrants future examination.