Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5.11
Acetabular cup with porous tantalum backing 6 months after implantation. Courtesy:
Zimmer
Fig. 5.12
Wall of the
Umayyad Palace in Amman
(Jordany)
constructed with large stones whose gaps are filled with a mixture of smaller stones.
The result is a strong, efficient, occasionally low cost construction (less cement
needed). An example of such a construction is visualized in Fig.
5.12
:partofa
wall of the Umayyad palace in Amman. We did not analyze the size distribution in
this particular case but it can reasonably be assumed on theoretical grounds that a
self-similar fractal composition is the most efficient space filler. Herewith we only
suggest that the ingrowth in porous Ta and occasionally its fractal nature might be
together with pore size co-responsible for the success of this device.
