manufacture an exact shape , AM enables surgeons to control additional properties of the material ,” he adds . “ They can design implants that mimic the patient ’ s bone stiffness , density and trabecular structure , which can reduce stress shielding and improve osseointegration and physical function further .”
Implants can also be made smarter by adding sensors . This allows clinicians to accurately measure patient data – a key to evidence-based medicine , notes Parkes : “ One parameter a sensor could measure is temperature , as a raised temperature can indicate an infection before symptoms appear . This could benefit both patients and doctors by enabling treatment before the infection becomes complicated and expensive to treat .”
Parkes believes sensors could also be incorporated into bone reinforcement implants , which are used to help fractures heal . “ In this example , sensors can measure the strain exerted on the implant , which indicates the extent the fracture has healed . From this information , surgeons can determine the best time to progress the patient to the next stage of therapy and could also identify healing problems earlier than currently possible ,” he argues . “ As implant loosening can be affected by non-compliance with physiotherapy , technology has been developed to overcome this issue . Incorporating accelerometers to monitor the movement of patients would allow healthcare professionals to remotely obtain data . These could be used to determine whether a patient is complying with their prescribed physiotherapy and rest regime .”
One institute developing technology in this field is a collaboration between Renishaw and Western University in Ontario , Canada , which has set up the Additive Design in Surgical Solutions ( ADEISS ) Centre to bring together clinicians and academics to generate novel 3D printed medical devices . “ ADEISS recently showcased the smart hip concept , which uses temperature sensors and accelerometers to collect patient data that can be communicated to a remote device ,” reveals Parkes . “ By making use of advanced sensor technology , there is now potential for the development of implants that can detect an infection
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