| Summary: | The authors have proposed a technique for the laser bonding of bone with bioceramics sintered with hydroxyapatite and glass powders. This study aimed to investigate the effects of glass content in the bioceramics on the bonding strength and to verify the laser bonding between the bioceramics and the bone surface covered with periosteum. Five glass content conditions were examined: 20, 50, 60, 70, and 80 wt%. The bioceramic plate was positioned onto a bovine bone specimen, and a 5 mm diameter area was irradiated with a fiber laser beam in vitro. Every bioceramic specimen was instantaneously bonded to the bone specimen. Laser irradiation was performed with 400 W laser power and 1.0 s exposure time. The highest shear strength of the bonding between the bone and bioceramics was 12.4 ± 3.8 N at 20 wt% glass content in share fracture tests. The upper projected area of the bonding substance was the largest at 20 wt%, and there was a statistically positive correlation between the bonding strength and the projected area of the bonding substance. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the bioceramics instantaneously bonded to the bone surface covered with periosteum in vitro by laser irradiation using the same irradiation condition. The bioceramics, periosteum, and bone were melted, and a bonding substance was generated to bond both materials through the periosteum, thus suggesting the feasibility of the laser bonding method for clinical applications.
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