CONSIDERATIONS ON THE OPTIMIZATION OF JOI NT IMPLANTS

Despite the increasing use of orthopaedic implants, there is still a l ack of adequate testing procedures and legal guidelines. Examples of t he consequences of this neglect are given. Modern techniques for the c alculation of stresses (finite element method [FEM]) and the predictio n of life cycle duration are presented. Such methods, applied in the d evelopment and manufacturing phases of standard and special implants, may ensure an adequate prosthetic life cycle, with particular emphasis being placed on the biomedical optimization of the implant/bone inter face and surrounding bone.