Dec 28, 2017 | By Tess
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan has developed a range of 3D printed bionic bone structures specifically designed for Chinese people. The 3D printed bones, made from metal and composite materials, are expected to launch on the Chinese commercial market in late 2018.
As the world’s population ages more and more, the need for orthopedic implants and devices continues to increase steadily. For instance, while the orthopedic bone market was worth approximately $38.4 billion in 2017, data from the ITRI’s Industrial Economics and Knowledge department suggests that it will increase to $43.31 billion by 2020 with a composite growth rate of 3.8%.
Considering this growth and need for orthopedic devices, Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute has been developing bionic bone structures using 3D printing technologies which it says are specifically designed for Chinese people.
By combining 3D printing, materials research, and medical expertise, ITRI researchers were able to devise a process that allows for the bionic bones to be custom produced in under twelve hours.
This efficiency, said vice president and general director of Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboraties Chii-Wann Linn, will ultimately offer patients a faster and more comfortable treatment for orthopedic implants.
The ITRI’s 3D printed bionic bones integrate many features that are becoming more and more prevalent in 3D printed orthopedic implants, such as a porous internal structure which encourages integration with the patient’s natural bone when implanted. The 3D printed bone material, a combination of metal and ceramic composites, also boasts hydrophilic properties, which also helps bone fusion.
According to the ITRI, its additively manufactured bionic implants will improve upon traditional bone implants—which are often made from heavy solid materials and can cause discomfort when implanted—in a number of ways.
Firstly, the 3D printed implants—by virtue of being customized to the patient—will be more appealing to patients and can offer better bone and tissue regeneration. In other words, the 3D printed bone implant will be integrated into the patient’s body as tissues grow through its porous structure.
Secondly, the 3D printed implants can be manufactured in a cost and time efficient manner, significantly reducing wait times for patients who are lined up to receive orthopedic devices. And lastly, the surgery required to implant the 3D printed bones is only minimally invasive, which can help to improve recovery times for patients.
Currently, the ITRI is preparing to bring its innovative 3D printed bionic bone implants to the Chinese market and is expecting them to launch towards the end of 2018. The entire process for developing the 3D printed implants, from materials to machinery used, was manufactured in Taiwan.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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Why are these only for Chinese people? Don't we all have the same bones?
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