3D printer saves fill "face" missing "artificial bone" to the next year to practical use (1/2)

Skull model made with 3D printer

I reproduce exactly the bone of the face
Professor of Engineering et al. Joint development venture regenerative medicine "next 21" and (Tokyo)  professor of University of Tokyo Hospital (Surgery), . It also received grants of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, from '17 around Heisei, had advanced (clinical trials) to trial for about 30 men and women over the age of 20.

Because recently, prospect of practical use was standing policy to apply for the manufacture and sale to the ministry by the end of the year. It is also released in the next year if it is approved.

Next 21 received an order from hospitals across the country, I will be prepared in the made-to-order.

Shape is complicated comparison with bone limbs facial bone. Even if you are porting from other parts of the patient himself, in some cases take several hours by hand to reproduce exactly the bone of the face missing.

The population of bone newly developed taken CT image data of the bone of missing parts, if you capture a 3D printer the image, can be produced in a few hours. Cumbersome manual labor is eliminated, there is also a benefit that can be mass-produced at a time.

According to the University of Tokyo Hospital, it is estimated trauma of the accident, such as stunted growth and cancer resection, jaw bone and cheek missing, patients who wish to transplant of bone and thousands of people annually in the country. Case In general, porting from the waist and (ribs) ribs of patients is often, but risk of bone graft original or deformation, such as nerve or paralysis also be pointed out. For children, there is a limit to the amount of the implantable bone in particular.

In addition, part of the spine and bones and limbs is absent, surgery to embed artificial bone made of ceramic are increasing, but the bones of the face of complex shape that is hard to reproduce.