Patient-specific resorbable biocompatible bone substitute through 3D-Printing

摘要

In the past, manufacturing medical implants required one thing more than any other: Time. Several days pass by until medically applicable implants are produced in extensive processing steps. Therefore, the main objective of research is to use Rapid Prototyping Technology -for instance with a 3D printer - to produce patient-specific implants directly within a few hours. However, the biocompatible granulate material and binder are not simply processable with a 3D printer. In a cooperative project, which is being promoted by the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen Otto von Guericke" with a budget of 170.000 Euro, researchers of the Engineering Department at the Chemnitz University of Technology, the Seckmann Institute for Technology Development e.V. Lichtenstein and the Curasan AG in Kleinostheim (Bavaria, Germany) are modifying and optimising the production of patient-specific implants made of Cerasorb. Cerasorb is a licensed, completely absorbable bone substitute material for bone defects in the complete human skeleton.