Conventional and Innovative Aspects of Bespoke Metal Implants Production

Advances in Manufacturing of metal implants may offer solutions to several challenges. Considering the current state of bespoke manufactured implants alongside clinical and industrial perspectives, this review seeks to illuminate where key advances are being made in a laboratory setting and what is being done to translate them to use in future implants. Especially, additive manufacturing is a core business in producing customized implants but its application in industrial field is yet to be fully exploited. On the other side, sheet forming and laser processing are two main techniques for the fabrication of bespoke metal parts with high dimensional accuracy and surface finishing that can be integrated within a functional chain leading to clinical applications. The exploited processes are here presented, together with a focus on implant customization strategies and standardization processes, key factors for the industrialization of custom-built rather than mass-produced devices.