Ten years ago the idea of 3D printing hadn’t even crossed the minds of most people but now we’re already seeing consumer-grade 3D printers cheap enough to be purchased by everyday people. And on Thursday, reports of the very first 3D-printed titanium sternum and rib cage hit the news.
ADDING TO THE LIST OF 3D-PRINTED MEDICAL IMPLANTS
A 3D-printed rib cage is certainly a first, but it’s also certainly not the first 3D-printed medical implant. There have been skulls, jaws, spinal fusions, vertebrae, heel, and a bunch of other impressive implants that have been printed and promptly placed inside other human beings to great success.
SEE ALSO: RESEARCHERS HAVE CREATED A 3D MILLIPEDE AVATAR
The implant that the Spanish patient received was the first of its kind. The patient suffered from a chest wall sarcoma, and part of the cancer treatment involved having his sternum and part of his rib cage removed. Rather than using a traditional method, which would need to eventually be replaced as the flat plate implant would begin to loosen, the patient’s surgical team opted for a solution that was not only a little more fancy, but more effective too.
HOW THE PROCEDURE WAS DONE
Part of the magic involves creating a 3D-printed sternum and rib cage that could closely model the patient’s own anatomy. In order to do this, the surgical team turned to Anatomics, a company well versed in 3D printing, implants, and other biomedical technology. Anatomics used CT scans in order to mirror the patient’s chest wall and create the appropriate implants.
During surgery prep, Anatomics used a $1.3 million electron-beam printer to create the titanium implants in record time. The operation was considered a success, and after 12 days of recovery in the hospital, the patient was able to go home. So far the patient has responded well to the surgery.
MORE TO COME
3D printing has made a ton of headway in low-cost biomedical solutions for patients that would otherwise spend thousands and thousands of dollars in medical bills. So far doctors are able to print prosthetics hands for $100, and prosthetic feet for just $15. 3D printing still has a long way to go, but things are looking good so far.
