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3D Planning and Printing of Patient Specific Implants for Reconstruction of Bony Defects
Published on: August 4, 2020
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Evolution of design considerations in complex craniofacial reconstruction using patient-specific implants
Sean Peel1, Satyajeet Bhatia2, Dominic Eggbeer1
11 PDR - International Centre for Design & Research, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK.
Summary
This study introduces a design considerations framework for patient-specific devices created using computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, and additive manufacturing, addressing a gap in current clinical practice and guiding future research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Device Design
- Digital Manufacturing
Background:
- Patient-specific devices (PSDs) manufactured using computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and additive manufacturing (AM) offer significant clinical benefits.
- Despite proven advantages, routine adoption, especially within the UK National Health Service, remains limited due to cost, material uncertainty, and lack of long-term data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and synthesize design rules and key specification considerations for complex CAD/CAM/AM patient-specific devices.
- To address a critical knowledge gap hindering the widespread clinical implementation of these advanced medical technologies.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review was conducted to extract existing design considerations.
- Five craniofacial patient case studies involving virtual surgical planning and the fabrication of guides and implants were analyzed.
- New design considerations were derived from clinical evaluations of these case studies.
Main Results:
- Nineteen recurring design considerations were identified from the literature review.
- Nine novel design considerations were extracted from the clinical case studies.
- A synthesized design considerations framework was developed to aid clinicians and engineers.
Conclusions:
- The developed framework provides essential guidance for the design and prescription of patient-specific devices.
- This research bridges the gap between advanced manufacturing capabilities and clinical application, promoting better patient outcomes.
- Further research is recommended to validate and expand upon the proposed design considerations.
