Journal of 3D Printing in Medicine Highlights: Volume 7, Issue 1
Journal Development Editor, Jasmine Hagan, shares her top papers from Volume 7, Issue 1 of the Journal of 3D Printing in Medicine.
With the recent transition of the journal to a fully open access model, 2023 kicked off to a great start. The transition will allow greater access globally to research covering all aspects of 3D printing including organ replacement, tissue engineering, regulatory and safety issues and much more.
In this feature, I share a selection of my favorite articles from the March issue.
Assessment of post-infarct ventricular septal defects through 3D printing and statistical shape analysis
Post-infract ventricular septal defect is a rare complication of myocardial infarction (heart attack) that can be fatal. The standard management of the condition is surgical intervention to fix the tears in the heart muscle either by utilizing a device to plug the holes or patching up the tears through open heart surgery. In this study, the team created 15 3D-printed heart models with post-infract ventricular septal defects from patients with the condition. The heart models were assessed by clinicians to evaluate their usefulness in the clinical assessment of the condition as well as how the models could assist with surgical planning, education and training. The clinicians believed that the 3D-printed models could be useful for procedural planning and for teaching surgical trainees.
In addition, the researchers conducted statistical shape analysis on the models to determine the average shape of the defect in patients. The findings showed that 12 out of the 15 models had a similar oval-shaped defect. The team suggested that this information could help clinicians understand the size of the defect to select the most feasible device for surgery.
Assessment of the imaging properties of 3D-printable material using dual energy computed tomography
This research article describes how the authors investigated the radiological properties of several 3D-printed materials that could be utilized as imaging phantoms. In the study, the team assessed the response of the 3D printed material to dual energy computer tomography.
The 3D-printed materials were designed to be of similar texture to human tissue including myocardial and vascular tissue. In addition, they conducted a literature search of CT number of 3D printed materials. The team found that most of the 3D printed materials tested in the study exhibited similar behavior to adipose tissue rather than soft tissue or muscle. The team emphasized the importance of selecting the most appropriate material for 3D-printing phantoms as well as the necessity for a more standardized approach to testing the 3D-printed materials.
Use of 3D-printed polycaprolactone + hyaluronic acid-based scaffold in orthopedic practice: report of two cases
The bioprinting field has undergone significant advancements in the last decade, largely attributed to the progress that has been made in tissue engineering. This article details how researchers utilized a 3D-printed scaffold to promote new bone formation in two patients with orthopedic conditions. Currently, the standard method for bone regeneration in orthopedics is autografting which has its limitations including donor site morbidity. The 3D-printed scaffold was produced from biomaterials polycaprolactone and hyaluronic acid, materials that are commonly used in tissue engineering.
The team reported positive preliminary positive outcomes in both patients, with no complications following the procedure. Whilst the study has its limitations, it offers hope that the utilization of a 3D-printed polycaprolactone and hyaluronic acid-based scaffold could be an alternative method to autografting.
Interested in reading more about the latest developments in the field of 3D printing in medicine? Find the remaining articles from the March issue here.
If you have any queries about the Journal of 3D Printing in Medicine or are interested in publishing in the journal, please contact Journal Development Editor, Jasmine Hagan ([email protected])