Personalised urethra pessaries prepared by material extrusion-based additive manufacturing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Personalized medical treatment is advancing with 3D-printing technology.
• Vaginal inserts, specifically urethra pessaries, are used to treat urinary incontinence.
• Current pessaries are typically made from silicone via injection molding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of 3D-printing for creating customized urethra pessaries.
• To develop and test a novel, biocompatible material for 3D-printed pessaries.
• To establish methods for evaluating application-specific properties of 3D-printed pessaries.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a novel, biocompatible polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer for material extrusion 3D-printing.
• Optimized 3D-printing parameters (cross-sectional diameter, infill) to tailor mechanical properties.
• Developed and applied test methods to assess pessary performance under simulated in-vivo conditions, including force exertion, long-term stability, and ease of use.

Main Results:

• Successfully 3D-printed urethra pessaries with adjustable mechanical properties, matching commercial silicone products.
• Demonstrated long-term stability of the 3D-printed pessaries in simulated vaginal fluid and under compression.
• Confirmed that most 3D-printed pessaries allowed for self-insertion and self-removal without rupture.

Conclusions:

• 3D-printed urethra pessaries represent a viable and customizable alternative to conventional treatments for urinary incontinence.
• This technology facilitates personalized treatment for diverse patient groups, improving accessibility to pessary therapy.
• The developed material and methods support the effective use of 3D-printing for advanced medical devices.