Inspection for Perfection: How 3D Surface Profiling Tools Aid Implant Manufacturers

Surface texture and shape play critical roles in the successful integration, lifetime, and effectiveness of bioimplantable devices. A variety of techniques is available to quantify the surface characteristics. Non-contact, 3D optical profiling using scanning white light interferometry (SWLI) is of growing interest for quantifying these critical characteristics. The NewView™, ZeGage™, and ZeScope™ systems from Zygo Corporation (Middlefield, CT) exemplify this class of surface analysis instrumentation.