When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
People who suffer bad bone breaks or have chronic spine and craniofacial conditions may eventually have those problems heal much faster, if a human clinical trial produces good results.
An Israeli company has made a polymer membrane implant that heals broken bones 40% faster than traditional methods. The company, RegeneCure, based in Jerusalem, tested the implant in a veterinary clinic using 35 mature cats and dogs with various bone fractures.
Traditional bone-healing methods involve autografts, taking healthy bone from a patient and using it on the injury site, or bone graft substitutes to fill a fractured gap, reports Plastics Today. The company’s membrane, on the other hand, can be formed into any geometric shape to contain the damaged bone 
and can support bone drills and sutures. Its properties stimulate bone growth.
and can support bone drills and sutures. Its properties stimulate bone growth.
The animal tests went well. “The healing time for animals treated in the participating clinical study sites with injuries that normally take from five to twelve months was in many cases reduced to just eight weeks,” says Dr. Michal Limor, vice president of medical affairs of the company.
The company is now ready to take the next step. “The outstanding safety and efficacy results and additional data collected from pre-clinical studies will enable us to proceed with a human clinical study in the near future,” says Moshe Tzabari, the company’s chief executive officer.
The key to the faster bone healing was finding a material that could attract the most stems cells. The company analyzed several membrane formulations with varying plasticizer types before deciding on its final composition.
Plastics Today explains further what the material is and how it works:
The implant is a scaffold made from microporous AMCA (ammonia methacrylate copolymer type A) and a plasticizer. The surface is said to facilitate adherence of bone stem cells through a signaling mechanism called chemotaxis.
There has been a surge lately of developments with polymers to help bone problems. For example, a polymer and a three-dimensional printer can create a skull implant. Researches also have developed a polymer-based spinal implant. And English scientists have developed a plastic scaffold to help heal bone injuries.
The RegeneCure membrane also has other benefits. Once implanted, it serves as a barrier to keep scar tissue from infiltrating into the fracture and slowing down the healing process. Adds Tzabari: “This biocompatible and user friendly membrane implant is suited for a large range of acute and chronic spine and craniofacial conditions that are characterized by delayed or lack of bone healing due to bone deficit.”
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