A method for forming a three-dimensional, biocompatible, porous scaffold structure
using a solid freeform fabrication technique (referred to herein as robocasting)
that can be used as a medical implant into a living organism, such as a human or
other mammal. Imaging technology and analysis is first used to determine the three-dimensional
design required for the medical implant, such as a bone implant or graft, fashioned
as a three-dimensional, biocompatible scaffold structure. The robocasting technique
is used to either directly produce the three-dimensional, porous scaffold structure
or to produce an over-sized three-dimensional, porous scaffold lattice which can
be machined to produce the designed three-dimensional, porous scaffold structure
for implantation.