Papers by Author: Koichi Kuramoto

Abstract: Electron beam melting (EBM) is a promising fabrication technique for directly producing metal products from powder as the starting material. Powders are provided as a thin layer (~100 μm) and melted layer by layer with an electron beam. In this study, the effects of the energy density of the incident beam on the mechanical properties of Ti–6 mass% Al–4 mass% V alloy products fabricated through EBM were examined. The products were fabricated using an electron beam at various energy densities depending on the electron beam current. The microstructures and crystallographic orientations were observed using optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), respectively. Compression tests were carried out in 2 loading directions using a mechanical testing machine equipped with strain gauges, one perpendicular (x–y direction) and the other parallel (z direction) to the stacking direction. In principle, the microstructure consisted of an acicular-shaped α phase (hcp lattice) and a small-volume β phase (bcc lattice). In addition, columnar grains elongated toward the z direction appeared during the repeated melting and solidification that occurred during the EBM process. An increase in the beam current of the incident beam enlarged the α grains and increased the relative density, resulting in the related Young’s modulus of the products. The energy density caused by the beam current also introduces anisotropy in the deformation behavior depending on the loading axis toward the stacking direction. This is closely related to the cast defect arranged along the stacking layers. It was concluded that the mechanical properties of the Ti–6 mass% Al–4 mass% V alloy products formed through EBM were very sensitive to the incident beam current and stacking direction, resulting in the exhibition of anisotropic deformation behavior within a limited range of energy density.

Abstract: The quantity and quality of regenerated bone strongly depends on the direction and amplitude of in vivo principal stress; therefore, in vivo stress distribution near bone implants should be optimized on the basis of the morphology of the interface between an implant and bone tissue. In this study, grooves were created on the implant surface in order to improve the surface morphology of the implant for optimizing in vivo stress distribution near the implant. The preferential alignment of the biological apatite (BAp) c-axis, which is a parameter of bone quality and controls the mechanical function of bones, is closely related to stress distribution; therefore, the direction of principal stress should be matched with the direction of the groove on the implant surface. Hip implants were prepared with grooves aligned at different angles from the surface; the grooves were located on the stem portion. These implants were inserted in a beagle femur to investigate the dependency of the quantity and quality of newly formed bone in the grooves on the groove angle. The degree of preferential alignment of the BAp c-axis of the regenerated bone in the grooves strongly depends on the angle of the groove to the principal stress vector that was estimated previously to an animal experiment. The regenerated bone forms anisotropic BAp orientation in response to the principal stress in the grooves; therefore, the direction of the grooves has to be designed on the basis of the stress distribution near the implant.

Abstract: Amid increasing numbers of artificial joint implantation surgeries, improving the quality of life (QOL) for patients by accounting for individual variation is a primary concern. Thus, we aim to develop implants designed to optimize the interface between implant and living bone. In particular, for ensuring long-term durability and stability after implantation, we focused on inducement of appropriate alignment for biological apatite (BAp) crystallites and the related collagen (Col) fibers as a bone quality parameter. In this study, we predicted that when stress is applied to bone, the BAp/Col preferential alignment can be formed on the basis of our previous result if osteocytes, which can sense its around stress field, are in an environment that is aligned with the principal stress vector. We tested this idea by introducing grooves with the different angles on the implant surface, considering the principal stress direction. This study finally analyses the effect of stress transmission by a load at the proximal femur on the bone inside and near the grooves by using a mechanical simulation in which groove angles and positions can be changed on the implant surface. Furthermore, we carried out animal experiments using a 2-years-old beagle to examine the effect of grooves in the principal stress direction on the surface in vivo. As a result, bone formation in grooves on the implant surface strongly depends on the grooved angle to the principal stress vector and the grooved position on implants. The new bone preferentially formed inside the grooves parallel to the principal stress direction predicted by three dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) in the proximal area of beagle femur.

Abstract: Natural bone is a kind of organic-inorganic hybrid composed of collagen and apatite crystals with a structure that provides specific mechanical properties such as high fracture toughness and flexibility. Materials exhibiting both high flexibility and bioactivity similar to natural bone are required for novel bone-repairing materials in medical fields. We expect that we can design such materials by mimicking the bone structure. Biomimetic process has been paid much attention where bone-like apatite is deposited on organic polymers in simulated body fluid (SBF). In this study, we investigated influence of cross-linking agents on apatite-forming ability of pectin gels. Pectin is a polysaccharide abundant in carboxyl group. Pectin gels were prepared by cross-linking of pectin aqueous solutions with calcium ions or divinylsulfone (DVS). Apatite-forming ability of the gels was examined in SBF. The citrus-derived pectin showed tendency to form the largest amount of the apatite independent on a kind of cross-linking agents in SBF.

Abstract: Apatite-polymer hybrids are expected as novel bone substitutes exhibiting bone-bonding ability and mechanical performances analogous to those of natural bone. In this study, we attempted preparation of organic-inorganic hybrids from different pectins such as pectic acid, apple-derived pectin and citrus-derived pectin through apatite deposition in simulated body fluid (SBF). Pectin gels were prepared by CaCl2 treatment of aqueous solutions of pectin. Apatite-forming ability of the gels was examined in SBF. The citrus-derived pectin showed tendency to form the largest amount of the apatite in SBF.

Abstract: Natural bone has excellent mechanical properties such as high fracture toughness and high flexibility. These properties are achieved by specific microstructure of natural bone that is composed of the organic collagen and inorganic apatite. On the basis of these findings, apatite-polymer hybrids are expected as novel bone substitutes having excellent mehcanical performances and high bone-bonding ability, i.e. bioactivity. In this study, we attempted preparation of apatite-polyglutamic acid hybrids through biomimetic process that mimics the principle of biomineralization. Simple chemical modification of the polyglutamic acid gel with 1 M (= mol/L) calcium chloride solution provided the gel with apatite-forming ability in simulated body fluid (SBF, Kokubo solution). This type of hybrid is also useful for designing bioactive bone substitutes with injectability, since viscosity of the polyglutamic acid gel can be easily controlled according to degree of cross-linking.