A analysis group from the College of Texas at Dallas (UTD) has developed a 3D-printed femur mannequin, doubtlessly paving the best way for cost-effective and customizable options in orthopedic surgical procedure preparation, biomechanical research, and bone restore. Created via 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 strategies and consider the effectiveness of implants. Nevertheless, cadaver bones are costly and tough to supply, and commercially accessible artificial bones could lack the anatomical precision wanted for personalized therapy. Moreover, they will take time to accumulate and will not replicate 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 group designed a 3D-printed femur prototype made out of polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer extensively 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 intently 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 docs to customise fashions to suit particular person sufferers. This functionality could possibly be important in bone tumor therapy, the place replicating affected bone sections may 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 may sooner or later change supplies like titanium presently utilized in bone restore. In one other promising software, researchers plan to include 3D-printed tumors into these fashions, permitting for preoperative testing and therapy improvement straight on simulated bone constructions.
This undertaking has introduced collectively specialists from completely different disciplines, together with orthopedic oncology surgeon Dr. Robert Weinschenk and hand and higher extremity surgeon Dr. Richard Samade from UT Southwestern. Each surgeons deliver engineering experience to the undertaking, enhancing the collaborative strategy in exploring novel orthopedic options.
The promising outcomes from this research, revealed 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 medical 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 remodel orthopedic surgical procedure and allow extra customized and exact remedies.
Supply: information.utdallas.edu
