Mechanical characteristics of functionally graded biodegradable implants for skull bone reconstruction

A functionally graded implant was developed to substitute the function of the skull for geometry and for protection of the brain. The implant consists of polylactide/amorphous calcium phosphate as mechanically stable external structure and of polylactide/calcium carbonate as porous internal structure for the ingrowth of bone. For the examination of this protective mechanical function implant fragments were compared with bone fragments of the corresponding calvarium with a 3-point bending test.