A analysis workforce from the College of Texas at Dallas (UTD) has developed a 3D-printed femur mannequin, doubtlessly paving the way in which for cost-effective and customizable options in orthopedic surgical procedure preparation, biomechanical research, and bone restore. Created by a collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Middle’s orthopedic surgeons, this 3D-printed femur represents a brand new strategy to enhancing surgical procedure planning and coaching with a patient-specific focus.
Challenges in Conventional Bone Surgical procedure Preparation
In conventional observe, orthopedic surgeons depend on cadaver bones or artificial bone fashions to review surgical methods and consider the effectiveness of implants. Nonetheless, cadaver bones are costly and troublesome to supply, and commercially obtainable artificial bones could lack the anatomical precision wanted for personalized remedy. Moreover, they will take time to accumulate and should not mirror the distinctive geometry required for patient-specific procedures.
The 3D-Printed Resolution
Led by Dr. Wei Li, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UTD, the analysis workforce designed a 3D-printed femur prototype constructed from polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer broadly utilized in 3D printing. This materials permits for cost-effective manufacturing, with every femur mannequin costing round $7 to print. At almost eight inches in size and one inch in diameter, the printed bone represents the midsection of a human femur and demonstrates mechanical properties carefully aligned with pure human bone in lab testing.
The 3D printing course of permits engineers to duplicate the exact geometry of a affected person’s femur, doubtlessly permitting medical doctors to customise fashions to suit particular person sufferers. This functionality may very well be important in bone tumor remedy, the place replicating affected bone sections might assist in testing focused therapies.
Purposes and Future Instructions
Past offering an economical various for biomechanical research and surgical coaching, the 3D-printed femur has broader implications. Dr. Li means that the polymer mannequin might in the future substitute supplies like titanium at the moment utilized in bone restore. In one other promising utility, researchers plan to include 3D-printed tumors into these fashions, permitting for preoperative testing and remedy improvement straight on simulated bone constructions.
This challenge has introduced collectively specialists from totally different disciplines, together with orthopedic oncology surgeon Dr. Robert Weinschenk and hand and higher extremity surgeon Dr. Richard Samade from UT Southwestern. Each surgeons carry engineering experience to the challenge, enhancing the collaborative strategy in exploring novel orthopedic options.
The promising outcomes from this examine, printed within the Journal of Orthopaedic Analysis, spotlight the potential for 3D-printed bones to advance orthopedic care. Additional analysis will refine the fashions and discover further scientific functions, together with potential use in bone tissue regeneration.
Because the analysis progresses, the UTD and UT Southwestern groups are optimistic about how 3D printing can rework orthopedic surgical procedure and allow extra customized and exact therapies.
Supply: information.utdallas.edu
