Not long ago, a US biomedical engineer successfully printed a personalized, implantable, embedded heart sensor medical device using a 3D printer. Once the news was released, it attracted a lot of attention from the industry. Some people even bluntly said that such sensors can change the doctor's means of treating heart disease.
In fact, 3D printing has "stepped into" the medical circle a few years ago, and quickly attracted the attention of the industry with its technical advantages and expected products. It seems that there is a "tornado" trend in the medical field. .
However, after interviewing a number of experts, it was found that the reality may not be the case. 3D printing technology has indeed brought gratifying hope to the medical community, but it may not immediately start a "tornado."
Some products have not yet entered the clinic
Currently, 3D printing technology has four research directions in the medical field: in vitro medical device manufacturing, personalized permanent implants, tissue 3D printing, and cellular 3D printing.
"In the field of in vitro medical device manufacturing and personalized permanent implantation, 3D printing technology has made great progress, but the organization of 3D printing and cell 3D printing is still under study, especially in the clinical period, it will take a long time." Xi'an Traffic Li Dichen, director of the State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Manufacturing Systems Engineering and deputy director of the Human Body Joint and Internal Plants Committee of the Tribological Branch of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, said.
For example, in the manufacture of in vitro medical devices, 3D printing can print a medical model 1:1 based on the scan data provided by the imaging device. Not only can it be used as a surgical model, allowing doctors to perform surgery on it beforehand, to determine precise surgical points before surgery, and as a best practice material for teaching and medical training.
Zeng Junjun, deputy director of the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, previously used a 3D printed acetabular model to simulate the best placement of plates and screws before surgery for an acetabular fracture patient. The steel plate was pre-bent and the length of the screw was measured.
“Because the pre-operative screw length has been accurately measured, this greatly reduces the time for repeated pre-bending of the plate and the measurement of the screw during the operation. The patient has less bleeding during operation and quick recovery after surgery.†Zeng Junjun introduced the convenience of 3D printing for surgery. .
In fact, in addition to in vitro medical device manufacturing, 3D printing technology has made some progress in the printing of personalized permanent implants.
Liu Zhongjun, chief physician of the Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, confirmed this view and said: "Most 3D printed personalized permanent implants can be used clinically, mainly in the field of maxillofacial repair and orthopedics."
According to Liu Zhongjun, more than 40 patients have signed a 3D printed titanium alloy “skeletal†clinical study at the Third Hospital of Peking University after signing the informed consent form. These 3D printed implants fall into three categories: interbody fusion cages, artificial vertebral bodies, and hip joint plants.
"The first 3D printed artificial vertebral body implant has been in existence for 13 months. We have seen from the imaging that the bones have grown very well." Liu Zhongjun said.
The 3D printed heart and liver belong to the tissue and cell fields and have not entered the clinic. "Although it can be printed, it does not produce functional effects like the original organs of the human body." Li Dichen said.
"Especially 3D printing of cells, printing printed cells and liposuction materials, layer by layer, extruded into a shape, like jelly, and able to grow with the original tissue of the human body, is still under study, otherwise It can only be a few hours without meaning." Li Dichen said.
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