A new Australian research collaboration using 3D implants and robotic surgery is set to change the way tumours and bone cancers are treated.
It is also expected to improve patient and healthcare outcomes and provide broad business opportunities for local companies.
The five-year project, “Just in time implants”, brings together the Australian Government, RMIT University in Melbourne, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and global medical technology company Stryker.
The A$12.1 million project is funded by Stryker and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), which is contributing A$2.36 million.
The project team will combine 3D printing, robotic surgery and advanced manufacturing to create tailored implants for patients with bone cancer.
The objective is to custom print an implant to fit the space left after the removal of diseased bone in a patient in an adjacent operating theatre.
Australia is leading the way globally in developing and implementing new manufacturing models and technology in the medical space – combining robotic surgery and additive manufacturing.
The project will establish advanced manufacturing capabilities that will enhance the global competitiveness of Australia’s biotech industry.
It will also train a new generation of engineers and researchers in medical robotics and the additive
manufacturing of medical implants.
