Abstract
Improvements in software for image analysis have enabled advances in both medical and engineering industries, including the use of medical analysis tools to recreate internal parts of the human body accurately. A research analysis found that FDM-sourced elements have shown viability for a customized and reliable approach in the orthopedics field. Three-dimensional printing has allowed enhanced accuracy of preoperative planning, leading to reduced surgery times, fewer unnecessary tissue perforations, and fewer healing complications. Furthermore, using custom tools chosen for each procedure has shown the best results. Bone correction-related surgeries require customized cutting guides for a greater outcome. This study aims to assess the biopolymer-based tools for surgical operations and their ability to sustain a regular heat-sterilization cycle without compromising the geometry and fit characteristics for a proper procedure. To achieve this, a DICOM and FDM methodology is proposed for fast prototyping of the cutting guide by means of 3D engineering. A sterilization test was performed on HTPLA, PLA, and nylon polymers. As a result, the unique characteristics within the regular autoclave sterilization process allowed regular supplied PLA to show there were no significant deformations, whilst annealed HTPLA proved this material’s capability of sustaining repeated heat cycles due to its crystallization properties. Both of these proved that the sterilization procedures do not compromise the reliability of the part, nor the safety of the procedure. Therefore, prototypes made with a similar process as this proposal could be safely used in actual surgery practices, while nylon performed poorly because of its hygroscopic properties.
Highlights
Recent developments of 3D printing processes have been applied to the biomedical engineering field in areas such as tissue engineering and generative medicine [1]
A regular hospital steam heat sterilization cycle by means of an autoclave was shown to not have a significant effect on the dimensional functionality for tested surgical guides printed with an FDM procedure with polymeric materials of Polylactic acid (PLA) and heat treatable polylactic acid (HTPLA)
The ideal behavior for this procedure was achieved with previously heat-treated HTPLA; this proved that an accurate annealing procedure must be performed beforehand by controlling the heating and cooling times to reach the best results in achieving material stability at high temperatures
Summary
Recent developments of 3D printing processes have been applied to the biomedical engineering field in areas such as tissue engineering and generative medicine [1]. In the medical field, real-life training is becoming more challenging, as traditionally accepted methods, such as direct supervision or corpse training, have shown to be difficult because of the high number of students [4]. Radiological solutions such as computed tomography (CT) can show body layers by means of their density to create cross-sectional.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
