3D Printed Bone Implants Are Now Available For Patients

[terry947]

Nice thanks for the reply. I think 10k euro is fine as long as the results are good and not fake looking.

[Breakingbad]

I think the real question is what those prices mean. I'm betting that's just the price of the implants themselves, before any surgeons get involved.

[osteotomy]

So, calcium phosphate. What's the difference with hydroxyapatite exactly? The implants are pre-shaped, well yes, but why would they be "replaced by bone" as claimed, whereas that is by far not a given when using for example hydroxyapatite? A lot of claims made by the company selling the stuff, hope they can seriously back it up with some proper studies. Me thinks this would be worldwide front page news if they could.

[Bobbit]

So, calcium phosphate. What's the difference with hydroxyapatite exactly? The implants are pre-shaped, well yes, but why would they be "replaced by bone" as claimed, whereas that is by far not a given when using for example hydroxyapatite? A lot of claims made by the company selling the stuff, hope they can seriously back it up with some proper studies. Me thinks this would be worldwide front page/Nature.com news if they could.

Osteo:

Your skepticism is well founded.   If you read the details in the literature - -  the matrix is not replaced by real bone.  It does allow some infiltration at the attachment points.

[PloskoPlus]

Osteo:

Your skepticism is well founded.   If you read the details in the literature - -  the matrix is not replaced by real bone.  It does allow some infiltration at the attachment points.

So does HA paste.

[Bobbit]

So does HA paste.

Yes... agree.  There is supposed to be infiltration at the mating surface.

[Lazlo]

newsflash medpor allows extensive blood vessel ingrowth and it stays f**king medpor.

[PloskoPlus]

newsflash medpor allows extensive blood vessel ingrowth and it stays f**king medpor.

Quoted for truth.

[overbiter]

Osteo:

Your skepticism is well founded.   If you read the details in the literature - -  the matrix is not replaced by real bone.  It does allow some infiltration at the attachment points.

I'm not sure what source material you are reading, but if you did a bit more background research you would realise you are wrong. Here is an article about the company that makes CT-Bone, Next 21

http://3dprint.com/37745/bone-and-tissue-bioprinting/

In the article the lead researcher specifically states that this technique is useful to treat children born with deformities. Why would anyone Implant a material that fuses with a childs bone (and therefore cannot be removed) but does not remould as a child grows. Think about it, don't be ignorant.

"Takato is the head of the Division of Tissue Engineering at Tokyo University Hospital and says he believes this technology will also offer hope to children born with bone or cartilage deformities. He says the process of using synthetic implants is currently inadequate as the rate of a child’s growth outstrips the usefulness of the implants over time."

[Bobbit]

I'm not sure what source material you are reading, but if you did a bit more background research you would realise you are wrong. Here is an article about the company that makes CT-Bone, Next 21

http://3dprint.com/37745/bone-and-tissue-bioprinting/

In the article the lead researcher specifically states that this technique is useful to treat children born with deformities. Why would anyone Implant a material that fuses with a childs bone (and therefore cannot be removed) but does not remould as a child grows. Think about it, don't be ignorant.

"Takato is the head of the Division of Tissue Engineering at Tokyo University Hospital and says he believes this technology will also offer hope to children born with bone or cartilage deformities. He says the process of using synthetic implants is currently inadequate as the rate of a child’s growth outstrips the usefulness of the implants over time."

What is proposed in the article you point to is, as yet,  just a  possible/maybe still to be approved project - -  which appears to be an interesting further possible advance on the CT Bone Next 21 calcium phosphate process.

But the discussion was about the existing Next 21 calcium phosphate implants - -   not some further possible / maybe / sometime development.  I think it remains true that the calcium phosphate implants allow infiltration at the attachment surfaces - -  but do not grow native bone in the matrix.

But new research may enhance that sometime further down the road with the different biological components (such as stem cells) that are planned to be added to the  3D printing process - - sometime in the future.

[overbiter]

What is proposed in the article you point to is, as yet,  just a  possible/maybe still to be approved project - -  which appears to be an interesting further possible advance on the CT Bone Next 21 calcium phosphate process.

But the discussion was about the existing Next 21 calcium phosphate implants - -   not some further possible / maybe / sometime development.  I think it remains true that the calcium phosphate implants allow infiltration at the attachment surfaces - -  but do not grow native bone in the matrix.

But new research may enhance that sometime further down the road with the different biological components (such as stem cells) that are planned to be added to the  3D printing process - - sometime in the future.

Where are you getting your facts from buddy? Just point me to the literature that is backing up your claims and I will believe you. You stated that somewhere in the small print it said that CT-Bone is non resorbable. Just show me where it says that and set me straight. I want to see it, if it is true. If that claim of yours was made up on the other hand, then back down gracefully, and don't make s**t up in the future.

[PloskoPlus]

Ha paste is widely used for paediatric craniofacial defects.

[Bobbit]

Where are you getting your facts from buddy? Just point me to the literature that is backing up your claims and I will believe you. You stated that somewhere in the small print it said that CT-Bone is non resorbable. Just show me where it says that and set me straight. I want to see it, if it is true. If that claim of yours was made up on the other hand, then back down gracefully, and don't make s**t up in the future.

Overbiter,

Your response is pretty hostile in tone.  Is that really necessary ?

The problem I have, is what I see in the following:

"The manufacturing of CT-Bone involves printing the designed implant using calcium phosphate, the primary constituent of natural bone. The advantage is that when this is implanted, the patient’s existing bone fuses with it just as it would with natural bone and unifies in a few months. It’s a bone-like implant that allows bone to grow naturally into it.

As Maikel Beerens, CEO at Xilloc, said, “3D Printing of CT-Bone allows us to help even more patients with a tailor-made solution. After taking a CT-scan of the patient, a patient-specific implant is designed by our biomedical engineers in collaboration with the surgeon. This design perfectly fits on the anatomy of the patient, ensuring good bone-to-implant contact and facilitating bony in-growth.”  "

That is NOT a direct claim that the calcium phosphate is absorbed.   It is not a direct claim that the calcium phosphate is replaced by new bone growth. 

The best that can be said is that the CT-bone fits well to the mating surface (due to the digital 3D printing - - not the material ) and that facilitates intimate contact with the bone and that facilitates bony "in-growht".   

Nor is that a claim that the calcium phosphate is replaced with natural bone. 

Is it possible that at some point that we could have a complete bony infiltration that over time functions like real bone: Meaning that there will be an integral blood supply through a new periosteum layer and there will be internal bone marrow which is making new blood cells and which new bone could repair itself if fractured like natural bone repairs itself ?   Yes.   I suppose all of that is possible. 

But at this point,  that is still a long way in the future.   

All of that is my opinion, based on my reading of the literature and the basic biology involved. 

Regards

[Lazlo]

Yeah Bobbit is right.

[overbiter]

Overbiter,

Your response is pretty hostile in tone.  Is that really necessary ?

The problem I have, is what I see in the following:

"The manufacturing of CT-Bone involves printing the designed implant using calcium phosphate, the primary constituent of natural bone. The advantage is that when this is implanted, the patient’s existing bone fuses with it just as it would with natural bone and unifies in a few months. It’s a bone-like implant that allows bone to grow naturally into it.

As Maikel Beerens, CEO at Xilloc, said, “3D Printing of CT-Bone allows us to help even more patients with a tailor-made solution. After taking a CT-scan of the patient, a patient-specific implant is designed by our biomedical engineers in collaboration with the surgeon. This design perfectly fits on the anatomy of the patient, ensuring good bone-to-implant contact and facilitating bony in-growth.”  "

That is NOT a direct claim that the calcium phosphate is absorbed.   It is not a direct claim that the calcium phosphate is replaced by new bone growth. 

The best that can be said is that the CT-bone fits well to the mating surface (due to the digital 3D printing - - not the material ) and that facilitates intimate contact with the bone and that facilitates bony "in-growht".   

Nor is that a claim that the calcium phosphate is replaced with natural bone. 

Is it possible that at some point that we could have a complete bony infiltration that over time functions like real bone: Meaning that there will be an integral blood supply through a new periosteum layer and there will be internal bone marrow which is making new blood cells and which new bone could repair itself if fractured like natural bone repairs itself ?   Yes.   I suppose all of that is possible. 

But at this point,  that is still a long way in the future.   

All of that is my opinion, based on my reading of the literature and the basic biology involved. 

Regards

I'm not hostile. It's just that there are a lot of lookism.net people on this forum making claims, but then not backing them up with evidence. All I'm saying is that CT-Bone as a material is resorbable. Bone cells can colonise its structure and it can eventually become like living bone. If this isn't true, then why would surgeons consider making implants for children out of it?