Patent ID: 8613876

Claim:
A method of producing a macroporous sintered ceramic foam biomedical bone structure, which method comprises: (a) forming a ceramic slip comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of a ceramic particulate, an organic binder in a liquid carrier, and optionally one or more surfactants, wherein at least one surfactant is present if the organic binder does not function as a surfactant (b) foaming the ceramic slip using a ball mill; (c) heating the foamed ceramic slip at a temperature sufficient to substantially burn out the organic binder; and (d) sintering the foamed ceramic slip following burn out of the organic binder thereby forming said macroporous sintered ceramic foam biomedical bone structure consisting of a homogenous open foam structure containing pores with a modal diameter d mode of from 100 μm to 1000 μm and a bulk porosity of from 40 to 95%.