Precision QC for Titanium Implants: High-Speed CT Right on the Shop Floor
The medical device industry demands uncompromising quality, especially for life-critical components like titanium implants. Hip stems, dental implants, spinal cages, and various fixation devices—often with complex lattice structures and intricate internal geometries—require 100% verification before they reach the patient.
Traditionally, the X-ray inspection of titanium was reserved for specialized labs, involving long scan times due to the material’s density. COREX changes this by bringing high-speed Industrial CT directly to the production line.
The Challenge of Titanium Implant Metrology
Titanium implants present unique metrology challenges:
Complex 3D Geometries: Many implants feature intricate internal structures (e.g., porous ingrowth surfaces, internal channels) and external free-form shapes that are impossible to measure with contact probes or even traditional optical systems.
Surface Treatment Sensitivity: Titanium implants often undergo critical surface treatments (e.g., anodization, plasma spraying) that are easily damaged by contact probes. Optical systems can struggle with varying reflectivity.
Sterilization & Contamination: Minimizing handling post-production is crucial for sterile implants.
Speed vs. Accuracy: The need for rapid verification without compromising the extreme accuracy required by medical standards.
COREX: The “Digital X-Ray Vision” for Titanium
COREX provides a non-contact, non-destructive, and highly accurate solution for titanium implant inspection.
Fast Penetration: Despite titanium’s density, COREX can acquire a complete 3D volumetric scan in approximately 50 seconds. This speed is a game-changer for batch-by-batch quality control.
-
Total 3D Measurement: COREX captures both internal and external features simultaneously. This means:
Verifying internal lattice structures for proper build.
Measuring wall thicknesses of critical support beams.
Detecting subtle porosities or inclusions.
Performing full 3D comparisons of complex free-form surfaces against the nominal CAD model.
Shop-Floor Integration: By bringing this powerful inspection tool directly into the production area, manufacturers can perform critical checks before the implants are shipped. This significantly reduces the risk of non-conforming parts reaching the sterilization or packaging stages.
Ensuring Patient Safety and Regulatory Compliance
For medical device manufacturers, robust quality control is not just about efficiency—it’s about patient safety and compliance with stringent regulations (e.g., FDA, MDR).
Objective Validation: COREX provides undeniable, objective 3D data for every implant, serving as a digital “birth certificate” of quality.
Preventative Quality: Identify and correct process deviations early, preventing costly recalls and ensuring every implant adheres to exact design specifications.
Non-Destructive Assurance: Inspect 100% of critical features without damaging the high-value product.
| Feature | Traditional Method (e.g., CMM, Slow Lab CT) | COREX High-Speed CT |
| Measuring Method | Contact | Non-contact |
| Internal Features | Limited (CMM) / Slow (Lab CT) | Full 3D Visibility (Fast) |
| External 3D Form | Yes (CMM) | Yes (Full 3D comparison) |
| Inspection Speed | Slow (Minutes/Hours) | ~50 seconds per part |
| Production Integration | Off-line / Lab-based | On-line / Shop-floor |
| Contamination Risk | High (Multiple handling steps) | Low (Reduced handling) |
