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Custom-Made Bones are Being 3D Printed in a Lab then Implanted in People

posted by martyb on Monday March 09 2020, @09:52PM   Printer-friendly
from the have-a-bone-to-pick-for-you dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

SingularityHub:

Become partially android for a couple of years while your body heals itself.

It may sound far-fetched, but for patients needing reconstructive surgery, this could soon be the pitch from Danish startup Particle3D. The company is pioneering a novel method for 3D printing lightweight, customized bone implants that fuse with your skeleton before slowly disappearing.

The technology carries a lower risk of infection and the implants are tailored to your body (and the method could soon be heading to space with astronauts!).

[...] Traditional implants generally consist of non-degradable materials such as polymer or titanium. Particle3D uses a "bio-ink" made from tricalcium phosphate (TCP) powder particles and fatty acids. TCP [has] been used in reconstructive surgery for decades, but is normally manually sculpted by surgeons from solid blocks into the desired implant shape. This approach can limit the potential positive effects of TCP, for example, when it comes to stimulating natural bone growth.

Three words: retractable Wolverine claws.

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  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by optotronic on Tuesday March 10 2020, @01:40AM (2 children)

    by optotronic (4285) on Tuesday March 10 2020, @01:40AM (#968826)

    My albeit limited understanding is that some people react poorly to titanium and other implant materials and they can cause chronic pain even in those whose bodies don't reject them. I think a self-generated bone replacement (i.e., the bone regrows in the implanted scaffold) would be preferable. Plus, it would make TSA screenings easier.

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  • (Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:23AM (1 child)

    by Grishnakh (2831) on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:23AM (#968880)

    Other materials, sure, but I thought (any doctors care to step in here?) that commercially-pure titanium was completely biocompatible, which is why they use it in implants (esp. bone implants like with hip replacements, and also dental implants). It's so biocompatible, in fact, that bone wants to grow into it and fuse with it.

    Chronic pain is probably a result of the other damage done to joints involved, and might not be avoidable with any kind of bone implant at this point.

    You're right about the TSA screenings though.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @05:11AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @05:11AM (#968929)

      I think there is still a weak point at the interface. Also, Ti can't be the most biocompatible, thet honor belongs to diamond.