Patent attributes
A method of fabricating a porous or partially porous three-dimensional metal article for use as a tissue ingrowth surface on a prosthesis. The porous article is formed using direct laser remelting in a cross section of a layer of metallic powder on a build platform without fusing thereto. The power, speed, spot size and beam overlap of the scanning laser is coordinated so that a predetermined porosity of the metallic powder can be achieved. Laser factors also vary depending from the thickness of the powder layer, type of metallic powder and size and size distribution of the powder particles. Successive depositing and remelting of individual layers are repeated until the article is fully formed by a layer-by-layer fashion. In an additional embodiment, a first layer of metallic powder may be deposited on a solid base or core and fused thereto.
