New research studies verify the biomechanical
accuracy of 3D-printed orthopedic models
3D printing leader Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS) has enhanced
its J750 Digital Anatomy™ 3D printer with advanced bone
capabilities that don’t just look real but are actually
biomechanically realistic, backed by clinical research. The
software upgrade enables the systems to mimic porous bone
structures, fibrotic tissue, and ligaments so medical professionals
can create models that behave just like human bone.
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The Digital Anatomy 3D printer from
Stratasys enables physicians to practice inserting screws for
orthopedic applications with biomechanical realism similar to a
human anatomy. (Photo: Business Wire)
The Digital Anatomy printer was first introduced a year ago,
with an initial focus on mimicking soft cardiology tissues, such as
hearts and blood vessels, using powerful Digital Anatomy software
and materials like GelMatrix™ and TissueMatrix™. The technology has
helped healthcare providers improve surgical preparedness and
medical device makers to conduct testing and train medical
professionals on new devices. BoneMatrix™ material with the
enhanced software capabilities extends those benefits to orthopedic
applications.
“We believe that better preparation leads to better clinical
outcomes,” said Vice President Osnat Philipp, who leads the global
healthcare team at Stratasys. “The mechanical properties of bone
are so fundamental to the ability of our skeletons to support
movement, provide protection for our vital organs and ultimately
affect our quality of life. Being able to 3D print models that are
biomechanically accurate and unique to each patient is critical to
that preparation.”
Despite the high demand for bone models, traditional model
options have serious shortcomings. The medical industry has
traditionally used human bone from cadavers, or legacy 3D printing
solutions, all of which have proven inadequate. Human bone is
expensive, difficult to obtain, and hard to acquire with the
precise pathology characteristics needed, such as with tumors or
reflecting different ages. Off-the-shelf manufactured bone models
also lack those patient-specific characteristics, and other
traditional 3D printing solutions are biomechanically unrealistic.
In contrast, whether inserting a screw or drilling or sawing a
bone, medical professionals can expect haptic feedback from Digital
Anatomy models that is very realistic, and each model can be
created from an actual patient scan.
3D-printed skull and spine models for physician training
workshops allow doctors to practice cutting and drilling bones,
said a medical director at a children’s hospital in Florida. Her
focus has been on using state-of-the-art simulation to transform
pediatric training and education. “The opportunities seem endless
to me because doctors can ‘operate before they operate,’” she said.
“It’s going to decrease surgical time, it’s going to decrease
morbidity and mortality, and help us decrease anesthesia time,
which is better for brain development.”
While the 3D printer itself is cutting-edge technology, it’s the
Digital Anatomy software that unlocks its power. More than 100
sophisticated presets have been developed and refined through years
of expert testing, in partnership with top academic medical centers
and hospitals around the world. For example, intervertebral discs
can be printed normal or degenerated. The joints between vertebrae
can be printed in varying degrees of stiffness. The denser
structure of skull bone is differentiated from general bones. Long
bones can be printed with varying amounts of marrow. Different
combinations of materials are produced at a 3D voxel level to
ensure the right biomechanical properties.
Researchers at the Computational Mechanics and Experimental
Biomechanics Lab at Tel Aviv University conducted a clinical
evaluation of the characteristics of bone models that were 3D
printed on the Digital Anatomy system, specifically focusing on how
accurately they replicated screw pull-out force and driving torque
using cortical and cancellous screws. The 2020 study concluded that
orthopedic screws pull-out force in the 3D-printed models had a
similar haptic response to human cadaver bone.
A second study conducted this year by researchers at the
Technion Institute of Technology’s Materials Science and
Engineering Laboratory in Israel demonstrated the mechanical
accuracy of 3D-printed spine models compared to cadaver spines. The
study was able to demonstrate that the 3D-printed models of lumbar
vertebrae accurately represented the range of motion compared to
published literature on human spines.
More information on the Digital Anatomy 3D printer is available
online.
Stratasys is a global leader in additive manufacturing or
3D printing technology and is the manufacturer of FDM®, PolyJet™,
and stereolithography 3D printers. The company’s technologies are
used to create prototypes, manufacturing tools, and production
parts for industries, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare,
consumer products and education. For more than 30 years, Stratasys
products have helped manufacturers reduce product-development time,
cost, and time-to-market, as well as reduce or eliminate tooling
costs and improve product quality. The Stratasys 3D printing
ecosystem of solutions and expertise includes 3D printers,
materials, software, expert services, and on-demand parts
production. Online at: www.stratasys.com.
To learn more about Stratasys, visit www.stratasys.com, the
Stratasys blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Stratasys reserves
the right to utilize any of the foregoing social media platforms,
including the company's websites, to share material, non-public
information pursuant to the SEC's Regulation FD. To the extent
necessary and mandated by applicable law, Stratasys will also
include such information in its public disclosure filings.
Stratasys, PolyJet Technology, Digital Anatomy, BoneMatrix,
GelMatrix, and TissueMatrix are trademarks of Stratasys Ltd. and/or
its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners, and Stratasys assumes no responsibility with
regard to the selection, performance, or use of these non-Stratasys
products.
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612-716-9228
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Afonso, Incus Media stratasys@incus-media.com +44 1737 215200
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Asia Pacific and Japan Alice Chiu
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