3D Printing

3D printing stands as one of the greatest game changers of the past decade. Its utilization in the medical field has materialized theoretical concepts into tangible objects, responsible for innovations that enhance the quality of patient care. Within the Medical Physics Lab, our 3D printing platform enables us to tackle complex medical challenges, offering concrete solutions for each issue. Our activities include the creation of accurate anatomical models for (pre)clinical research, the personalization of medical devices to meet individual patient specifications, as well as the development of new healthcare solutions for previously abstract problems. The fields of application in which we are involved are numerous, ranging from diagnostics to therapy and healthcare professional training. If you have an idea, feel free to contact us to discuss how we can bring it to life!

A selection of our projects:

Personalized silicon external prosthesis

After undergoing a mastectomy, some women do not want to undergo breast reconstruction. These patients face psychological difficulties related to their change in silhouette and physical challenges due to the mass imbalance caused by the preservation of the other breast. In this project, we aim to assist these patients by creating a personalized prosthesis tailored to their surgical history. The prosthesis, symmetrical to the remaining breast, is achieved through anatomical subtraction of the scar from the mirror image of the remaining breast tissue. A mold is then 3D printed, filled with a two-component silicone. The first productions have demonstrated the feasibility of the envisioned manufacturing process. Patient involved in this project has shown complete aesthetic satisfaction and a more symmetrical redistribution of loads on the shoulders. This has been evidenced by the patient’s personal experience (especially during physical activities) and by measuring shoulder position with and without the prosthesis. The next step of this study aims to objectively evaluate the results with a multidisciplinary team (oncologists, physiotherapists, psychologists) on a larger cohort of patients.

Development of new cutting guides for surgical resection of bone tumors

Based on the patient’s CT-scan images, our team is capable of reconstructing a 3D computer visualization of the patient. This model will help the surgeon to delineate the area that has to be resected during the surgery procedure (in red; Figure A). Based on this, a cutting guide, personalized for each patient, can be designed and produced through a 3D printing technology (in purple; figure B). After the positioning of the tool on the patient, the surgeon will easily cut the area of interest by following the guide. The latter can also be used to position the implant in the resected area (figure D) before being removed at the end of the surgical procedure (Figure E). The expected benefits of this personalized tool are a reduced operating time, reduced risks during the procedure, improved accuracy, better functional and aesthetic results as well as an overall surgical reduction cost.