MEDICAL DEVICES
and subsequently secrete the appropriate dose of antibiotic to treat it before it becomes symptomatic . This could reduce the number of patients admitted to hospital .”
The ultimate driving force for developing smart implants is the potential to considerably improve patient outcomes . Parkes believes AM offers several benefits , one major advantage being that the fit time schedule is reduced – a benefit to both patients and surgeons .
The benefits smart implants have over traditional metal implants could mean patients would suffer less pain and discomfort and be less likely to become seriously ill due to infection while at lower risk of needing revision surgeries – critical for younger patients . However , Parkes maintains that for widespread clinical adoption of smart implants , there are still challenges to overcome . “ Clinicians must run clinical studies to collect data on the safety and performance the implants offer to patients ,” he says . “ This must all be done in line with regulations such as the EU regulations on medical devices . A further key consideration is the processing of personal data in smart implants and how that data is used by the industry and clinicians .” Additive manufacturing solutions for healthcare applications - removable partial dentures
38 April 2018