Bravis hospital is going to experiment with 3D printing of medical applications. The hospital hopes to get started soon with its own 3D printer.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, allows an object, product or component to be produced in-house. This allows objects to be produced in very small runs or even customised for users. 3D printing uses a 3D model to print an object, for which a variety of materials can be used. These include plastic variants such as PLA or ABS and metal alloys, but also materials specially developed for medical applications such as bioinks.
Joining frontrunners
Three hospitals in the Netherlands are currently taking first steps with the use of 3D printers for medical applications. Bravis hospital says it welcomes innovation and wants to join these three frontrunners. The hospital therefore plans to start using its own 3D printer in the near future.
The hospital plans to use this printer for various purposes. For instance, Bravis hospital announced that it will print 3D models of complex fractures, which will be based on CT scans of the fracture. This printed model will help doctors get a more accurate picture of the patient's situation. This allows them to better prepare for surgery and better respond to the patient's specific situation. The prints can also help patients get a better picture of their fracture.
Printing attachments
In addition, the Bravis hospital wants to start printing attachments that are used to put a broken bone back in place. In doing so, this attachment can be tailored to the patient's specific fracture. "Is an attachment needed to put the broken bone back in place? That too can be specially custom printed! The 3D printer thus makes it possible to help patients very individually," the hospital writes on its website.
It is not yet known which 3D printer the Bravis hospital will use. For instance, available 3D printers use different printing techniques, have varying dimensions and the accuracy with which they can be printed varies. To choose the right 3D printer, the hospital enlisted the help of four students from Markland College in Oudenbosch. They investigated the possibilities of 3D printers and identified which type of printer best suited the Bravis hospital's use cases.
"Will the 3D printer eventually replace the CT or MRI scan? No, it won't. Simply because we need a CT or MRI to make a 3D print. But that the 3D printer will be a valuable addition for our Orthopaedics department is certain. We are looking forward to applying this new technique. As a first step, we will start working in the plaster room with plaster technician Harry-Jan Raadt. We will keep you posted on developments!", said Bravis Hospital.
Printing damaged tissue
3D printing techniques have long been used for medical applications. For instance, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) are working on bioinks that can be used to 3D-print biologically functional tissue. This tissue can be used to replace irreparably damaged human tissue. The researchers hope to eventually print implantable tissues that can be integrated with the human body much faster than is currently possible.
US Rice University is also working on bioink for medical applications. The university announced in April that it had printed osteochondral tissue using a 3D printer. The researchers hope to use this tissue to replace it in patients with osteochondral injuries, where both bone and cartilage are damaged.
The University Clinic for Companion Animals at Utrecht University successfully managed to implant a 3D-printed skull roof in a dog in February. This skull roof is made of titanium. A porous rim allows the bone to grow into the implant, integrating it into the dog's skull.
Printing medicines
However, 3D printing is also being used for other purposes. For example, the University of Glasgow has developed a 3D printer that can be used to produce medication locally on a small scale. According to the researchers, this will not only make it possible to lower the production costs of medications, but also to better tailor medication to users' needs. In addition, by enabling small-scale production, the researchers hope to produce medications that cannot be made profitably anyway.
People have also been experimenting with 3D printing of medical materials for some time. One example is the University of Florida, which has developed a 3D printing technology that can print medical implants and attachments. These include implantable bands and balloons, as well as soft catheters and medical gauze. With their printing technology, the researchers hope to produce stronger, cheaper, more flexible and comfortable implants than are possible with traditional manufacturing methods.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: Bravis hospital
