Laser Welding on Cerclage Wire Joining in Femur Surgery

Stainless steel wires with fiber-laser welding on lap joints are first proposed in this study to be used as cerclage wire joints for modern femur surgery, because of their potentially larger joint strength and less loosening failure than traditional joint devices. In this feasibility study, an experiment was set up to determine adequate parameters for the laser welding process in order to ensure that the wire joint of cerclage has good weld appearance, free oxidation, and suitable joint strength. A stainless steel wire 316L with a diameter of 1.6 mm, flare-welded on lap joint was used in the experiment as a specimen cerclage wire joint. Two major effective parameters were chosen for controlling a suitable fusion weld, including charge voltage and multiple frequencies of the laser irradiation. The adequate area of the laser parameters was determined from the experiment, including the ranges of charge voltage, multiple frequencies, and pulse width. The suitable welded lengths of specimens were also studied in the mechanical test to validate the joint strength. Suggested welded length has a better tensile strength than traditional cerclage joints. The paper concludes that the stainless wire joints with a fiber laser weld represents a promising alternative to traditional cerclage joint devices for modern femur surgery.