Formation of osseointegrating (bone integrating) surfaces on titanium by laser irradiation

Pulsed lasers can be used to modify the surface of medical implants in order to accelerate bone growth (osseointegration). A surface covered in attached droplets with diameters between 1 and 20 mu m is a beneficial surface for rapid osseointegration. This paper presents the results of an experimental program in which a broad range of laser parameters and different atmospheres were used to create different surface textures on titanium substrates, including the desired attached droplet topology. The resulting surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and micro-computer tomography. The paper explains how different types of surfaces are created by the laser-material interaction under different conditions and focus characteristics. It is shown that optimization of the laser parameters results in a robust process, which produces a surface that is fundamentally different from those created by nonlaser methods.