Combining diagnostic imaging technologies with the design freedom of additive manufacturing has opened up new opportunities in prosthetics, enabling custom patient devices and improving the effectiveness of diagnosis, planning, surgery and clinical outcomes.
This osteoinductive material may eliminate negative effects related to current bone fillers, such as cements and bio-cements. (Image courtesy of GE Additive)
Surgeons mainly use custom implants when bone geometry is not within the dimensional range of standard implants, when there are special requirements due to disease, or simply when a tailor-made solution enables a better clinical result.
For the successful use of the custom prostheses, inter-professional cooperation and communication between the orthopedic surgeon and the implant designer are key. The implant designer may not be familiar with anatomopathological, epidemiological, surgical or …