In-Hospital 3D Printed Scaphoid Prosthesis Using Medical-Grade Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Biomaterial.

Recently, three-dimensional (3D) printing has become increasingly popular in the medical sector for the production of anatomical biomodels, surgical guides, and prosthetics. With the availability of low-cost desktop 3D printers and affordable materials, the in-house or point-of-care manufacturing of biomodels and Class II medical devices has gained considerable attention in personalized medicine. Another projected development in medical 3D printing for personalized treatment is the in-house production of patient-specific implants (PSIs) for partial and total bone replacements made of medical-grade material such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

A three-dimensional printed patient-specific scaphoid replacement: a cadaveric study.

We present our first cadaveric test results of a three-dimensional printed patient-specific scaphoid replacement with tendon suspension, which showed normal motion behaviour and preservation of a stable scapholunate interval during physiological range of motion.

Corrective Osteotomy for Symptomatic Clavicle Malunion Using Patient-specific Osteotomy and Reduction Guides.

Midshaft clavicular fractures are often treated nonoperatively with good reported clinical outcome in a majority of patients. However, malunion with shortening of the affected clavicle is not uncommon. Shortening of the clavicle has been shown to affect shoulder strength and kinematics with alteration of scapular position.

A Simple 3-Dimensional Printed Aid for a Corrective Palmar Opening Wedge Osteotomy of the Distal Radius.

The reconstruction of malunited distal radius fractures is often challenging. Virtual planning techniques and guides for drilling and resection have been used for several years to achieve anatomic reconstruction. These guides have the advantage of leading to better operative results and faster surgery.

Selective laser melted titanium implants: a new technique for the reconstruction of extensive zygomatic complex defects.

The restoration of extensive zygomatic complex defects is a surgical challenge owing to the difficulty of accurately restoring the normal anatomy, symmetry, proper facial projection and facial width. In the present study, an extensive post-traumatic zygomatic bone defect was reconstructed using a custom-made implant that was made with a selective laser melting (SLM) technique. The computer-designed implant had the proper geometry and fit perfectly into the defect without requiring any intraoperative adjustments.

Rapid prototyped porous nickel-titanium scaffolds as bone substitutes.

While calcium phosphate-based ceramics are currently the most widely used materials in bone repair, they generally lack tensile strength for initial load bearing. Bulk titanium is the gold standard of metallic implant materials, but does not match the mechanical properties of the surrounding bone, potentially leading to problems of fixation and bone resorption. As an alternative, nickel-titanium alloys possess a unique combination of mechanical properties including a relatively low elastic modulus, pseudoelasticity, and high damping capacity, matching the properties of bone better than any other metallic material.

Novel microcalorimetric assay for antibacterial activity of implant coatings: The cases of silver-doped hydroxyapatite and calcium hydroxide.

Biomaterials with antimicrobial properties are now commonly used in different clinical specialties including orthopedics, endodontic, and traumatology. As a result, assessing the antimicrobial effect of coatings applied on implants is of critical importance. In this study, we demonstrate that isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) can be used for monitoring bacterial growth and biofilm formation at the surface of such coatings and for determining their antimicrobial effects.

Bone regeneration by the osteoconductivity of porous titanium implants manufactured by selective laser melting: a histological and micro computed tomography study in the rabbit.

The treatment of large bone defects still poses a major challenge in orthopaedic and cranio-maxillofacial surgery. One possible solution could be the development of personalized porous titanium-based implants that are designed to meet all mechanical needs with a minimum amount of titanium and maximum osteopromotive properties so that it could be combined with growth factor-loaded hydrogels or cell constructs to realize advanced bone tissue engineering strategies. Such implants could prove useful for mandibular reconstruction, spinal fusion, the treatment of extended long bone defects, or to fill in gaps created on autograft harvesting.

Laser scanning evaluation of atrophy after autologous free muscle transfer.

Denervated muscle tissue undergoes morphologic changes that result in atrophy. The amount of muscle atrophy after denervation following free muscle transfer has not been measured so far. Therefore, the amount of muscle atrophy in human free muscle transfer for lower extremity reconstruction was measured in a series of 10 patients.

Cranioplasty with custom-made implants: analyzing the cases of 10 patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess quantitatively whether a symmetric reconstruction of the calvaria could be achieved using 3-dimensional (3D) custom-made implants and to examine any complications caused by the cranioplasty.

Patients And Methods: Custom-made cranial implants were produced using data obtained from computed tomographic scanning of the defect using computer-aided design and rapid prototyping techniques. Polymethylmethacrylate was used as the reconstruction material and the implant was cast from a silicone rubber mold.

Laryngeal electromyography: electrode guidance based on 3-dimensional magnetic resonance tomography images of the larynx.

Objectives/hypothesis: Laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) is an important tool for the assessment of laryngeal nerve and muscle functioning. The purpose of the study was to determine electrode insertion angle and insertion depth for the various laryngeal muscles.

Methods: Twenty-three cadaver larynges were examined with magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) and Materialize Interactive Medical Image Control System (Leuven, Belgium) 3-dimensional (3D) imaging software.

Mechanical implications of pneumatic neck vertebrae in sauropod dinosaurs.

The pre-sacral vertebrae of most sauropod dinosaurs were surrounded by interconnected, air-filled diverticula, penetrating into the bones and creating an intricate internal cavity system within the vertebrae. Computational finite-element models of two sauropod cervical vertebrae now demonstrate the mechanical reason for vertebral pneumaticity. The analyses show that the structure of the cervical vertebrae leads to an even distribution of all occurring stress fields along the vertebrae, concentrated mainly on their external surface and the vertebral laminae.

Does abdominoplasty with liposuction of the love handles yield a shorter scar? An analysis with abdominal 3D laser scanning.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the combination of abdominoplasty with liposuction of both flanks with regards to length of scar, complications, and patient's satisfaction. A retrospective analysis of 35 patients who underwent esthetic abdominoplasty at our institution between 2002 and 2004 was performed. Thirteen patients underwent abdominoplasty with liposuction of both flanks, 22 patients underwent conventional abdominoplasty.

Novel CCR5 monoclonal antibodies with potent and broad-spectrum anti-HIV activities.

To identify monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with high potency and novel recognition sites, more than 25,000 of mouse hybridomas were screened and 4 novel anti-human CCR5 mAbs ROAb12, ROAb13, ROAb14, and ROAb18 showing potent activity in cell-cell fusion (CCF) assay were identified. These mAbs demonstrated potent antiviral activities in both single-cycle HIV infection (IC(50) range: 0.16-4.

Laser surface scanning analysis in reconstructive rhytidectomy.

The implementation of laser surface scanning to assess facial symmetry after unilateral face-lift procedures used to reconstruct defects after skin tumor resection is presented. Six patients who had undergone defect reconstruction with a flap raised from the subcutaneous plane were included in the study. Immediate postoperative photographic evaluation confirmed facial asymmetry because of unilateral skin tension.

Rapid vessel prototyping: vascular modeling using 3t magnetic resonance angiography and rapid prototyping technology.

Object: Conversion of thoracic aortic vasculature as measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging into a real physical replica.

Materials And Methods: Several procedural steps including data acquisition with contrast enhanced MR Angiography at 3T, data visualization and 3D computer model generation, as well as rapid prototyping were used to construct an in-vitro model of the vessel geometry.

Results: A rapid vessel prototyping process was implemented and used to convert complex vascular geometry of the entire thoracic aorta and major branching arteries into a real physical replica with large anatomical coverage and high spatial resolution.

Structure-based optimization of novel azepane derivatives as PKB inhibitors.

Novel azepane derivatives were prepared and evaluated for protein kinase B (PKB-alpha) and protein kinase A (PKA) inhibition. The original (-)-balanol-derived lead structure (4R)-4-(2-fluoro-6-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoyl)-benzoic acid (3R)-3-[(pyridine-4-carbonyl)amino]-azepan-4-yl ester (1) (IC(50) (PKB-alpha) = 5 nM) which contains an ester moiety was found to be plasma unstable and therefore unsuitable as a drug. Based upon molecular modeling studies using the crystal structure of the complex between PKA and 1, the five compounds N-[(3R,4R)-4-[4-(2-fluoro-6-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoyl)-benzoylamino]-azepan-3-yl]-isonicotinamide (4), (3R,4R)-N-[4-[4-(2-fluoro-6-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoyl)-benzyloxy]-azepan-3-yl]-isonicotinamide (5), N-[(3R,4S)-4-[4-(2-fluoro-6-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoyl)-phenylamino]-methyl]-azepan-3-yl)-isonicotinamide (6), N-[(3R,4R)-4-[4-(2-fluoro-6-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoyl)-benzylamino]-azepan-3-yl]-isonicotinamide (7), and N-[(3R,4S)-4-(4-[trans-2-[4-(2-fluoro-6-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoyl)-phenyl]-vinyl]-azepan-3-yl)-isonicotinamide (8) with linkers isosteric to the ester were designed, synthesized, and tested for in vitro inhibitory activity against PKA and PKB-alpha and for plasma stability in mouse plasma.