3D-printed suture guide for thoracic and cardiovascular surgery produced during the COVID19 pandemic

Laura Laliève ¹, Jérémy Adam ¹, Patrick Nataf ²

⁰Bone 3D, Paris, France.

Annals of 3d Printed Medicine +

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April 15, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Emergency 3D-printing of medical devices offers solutions for shortages. This case study details the creation of a 3D-printed cardiac surgery suture guide during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting manufacturing potential within hospitals.

Area Of Science

Medical Device Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing
Biomedical Engineering

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical shortages of medical devices.
On-demand manufacturing within healthcare settings presents a novel solution for crisis management.
Existing healthcare professionals and additive manufacturing technologies are poised for this shift, pending regulatory updates.

Purpose Of The Study

To present the design and production of a 3D-printed medical device as a case study.
To demonstrate the feasibility of in-hospital manufacturing of medical devices during a health crisis.
To explore the potential of additive manufacturing for addressing medical device supply chain vulnerabilities.

Main Methods

Design and development of a suture guide for cardiac surgery using additive manufacturing techniques.
Production of the medical device within a hospital setting.
Evaluation of the 3D-printing process for medical device creation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Results

Successful design and production of a functional 3D-printed suture guide for cardiac surgery.
Demonstration of in-hospital additive manufacturing capabilities for critical medical devices.
Identification of the need for regulatory adaptations to support widespread adoption of 3D-printed medical devices.

Conclusions

Emergency 3D-printing of medical devices is a viable strategy for mitigating shortages during pandemics.
In-hospital manufacturing of devices like the cardiac surgery suture guide showcases the potential of additive technology in healthcare.
Regulatory frameworks must evolve to facilitate the integration of 3D-printed medical devices into clinical practice.

Keywords:

ABS COVID19 Cardiac surgery FDM Medical device Silicon