Nottingham Trent University in England is using 3-D printed vertebrae as a part of pre-surgical training, according to 3dprint.com.
Here are five insights:
1. Nottingham Trent University designed the efforts to help surgeons in training know how it feels to drill into vertebrae or partly remove it prior to operating on human patients.
2. Bronek Boszczyk, MD, is leading the project and notes that a powder 3-D printing technique allows the implants to mimic the porosity of real bone.
3. The bone models are 3-D printed polylactic acid material and a binding agent, followed by a polyester coating. The bone interior is made of polyurethane and silicone is used to make discs between vertebrae.
4. Currently, the implants are being created for surgeons performing surgery that requires the removal of bone tissue to relieve trapped nerves.
5. Nottingham Trent University's next stage of the project is to print 3-D bones with varying levels of strength, enabling surgeons to practicing performing surgery on patients with conditions such as osteoporosis.