Page 37 - MMI - MayJune2022 small-single
P. 37

Many re-
                                                                                                    constructive
                                                                                                    procedures
                                                                                                    still re-
                                                                                                    quire a fair
          Source: CSIRO                                                                             amount of
                                                                                                    handwork
          The ability to 3D print with nitinol will allow stents like these to be made in greater varieties to suit more patients.  and artist-
                                                                                                    ry on the
                                                                                                    part of the
          common    implant  materials.  with  3D  printing  could  enable   omy, for example, rather than   surgeon. But
          Researchers in Australia have   more sizes and configurations to   having to be packed manually   working with
          proven a process for the 3D   make easily. Polymers and other   by the surgeon.           a bespoke
                                                                                                    implant
          printing of stents made from ni-  materials can benefit from addi-                        made for
          tinol, a shape memory alloy that   tive manufacturing as well; bio-  Simplifying procedures. The   the patient
          will resume its intended geom-  ceramics used as support struc-  ability to create custom implants   at hand
          etry after deformation; the ma-  tures and artificial bone graft   for specific patients  has  added   means that
          terial is already used for arterial   can be 3D printed into precise   benefits during  the course of   the surgeon
                                                                                                    has less
          stents, but the ability to apply it   geometries to fit a patient’s anat-  treatment.  Many reconstructive   adjustment
                                                                      procedures  still require a fair   and manual
                                                                      amount of handwork and artist-  work to do in
                                                                      ry on the part of the surgeon. But   the operating
                                                                      working with a bespoke implant   room.
                                                                      made  for the  patient  at hand
                                                                      means that the surgeon has less
                                                                      adjustment and manual work to
                                                                      do  in  the  operating  room.  Pro-
                                                                      cedures  can  be  accomplished
                                                                      faster  and  less  invasively;  pa-
                                                                      tients,  therefore, recover more
                                                                      quickly  and  have  better  health
                                                                      outcomes.  3D  printed implants
                                                                      could even reduce the number of
                                                                      surgeries  necessary  for a  given
                                                                      condition.  For  example,  glauco-
                                                                      ma stents 3D printed from a dis-
          Source: BMF                                                 solvable polymer could eliminate
                                                                      the follow-up surgery necessary
          This glaucoma stent is about 1 mm long, and was built using microscale 3D printing by Boston Micro   to remove the  titanium  devices
          Fabrication (BMF).                                          commonly used today.




                                                                                              May-June 2022 |  37
          www.mmindia.co.in
   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42