Spinal Disc Implant

At the University of Virginia I have been conducting research with Dr. Ji Ma in his metal additive manufacturing lab. One of the projects we have undertaken is the creation of a spinal implant that matches the stiffness of the bone around it. This would prevent the problematic phenomenon of subsidence, in which the implant sinks into the bone over time.

This was the existing model that needed to be improved upon. This model could not be printed without severe warping, and the top displaced unevenly when loaded

This final design I created balances stress and stiffness, with even displacement under loading. The springs were printed perfectly, and supports are not neccessary

Below is a collection of other springs explored before the current model was settled on