3D Printing Milestone

About

Overview This project was conducted using school resources as no funding was available to us, but, given the potential benefits to Colleen, it was an easy decision to make. We hope the positive outcome will attract funding to this work so we may develop the technique to become part of routine clinical practise.” This development is one of a growing number of medical milestones that 3D technology is bringing to the world. Printed prosthetics for arms and legs are becoming increasingly common, bone replacement devices have been created using titanium printing to replace cancerous vertebrae, heels and other bones; and it is expected that complex tissue, muscle, bones and cartilage through 3D bioprinting could be a reality within the next five years. Introduction Over the past 12 months, Dr Mohammed and his team from Deakin’s School of Engineering have also worked on various patient-specific medical device solutions using 3D printing technology, ranging across facial reconstruction, bone replacement structures and rehabilitation devices. Recent examples Working alongside collaborators at the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India, include the design and production of a titanium jaw implant and the design of a patient-specific dental implant that was recently surgically implanted into a patient’s jaw. Inventor Originally from the UK, Dr Mohammed joined the University 18 months ago as a Research Fellow in Advanced Design and is part of a growing interdisciplinary team of Deakin experts in bioengineering and medical device technology. He noted that Deakin is playing a pivotal role in developing 3D technology in Australia. Benenfits Invested in a comprehensive suite of world class 3D printers and design technology. Unlocked a wealth of research possibilities at Deakin, ranging across high impact sectors, such as medical, automotive and sports technology, allowing us to construct complex designs and to 3D print these in a wide variety of common engineering materials. Target Potentially print living cells with the 3D bioprinter.