Additive manufacturing of advanced medical devices for cartilage regeneration: minimally invasive early intervention

目前没有外科技术可以再生关节软骨，也没有现有的设备可以模拟软骨的特性。该合作伙伴关系将加速交付一种用于愈合软骨的创新医疗设备，该设备将跨越骨科手术的前沿，允许关节软骨再生而不是更换。该设备将使软骨恢复到健康状态。手术技术将通过一种新的精确微创锁孔技术进行优化。患者将能够在手术后立即使用膝盖，恢复时间将很快。 骨关节炎影响四分之一的人，使人衰弱，在英国损失超过30亿英镑的经济生产力，超过24亿英镑的失业福利，并导致NHS每年花费54亿英镑用于肌肉骨骼疾病。目前对严重骨关节炎的治疗是全关节置换，目前对软骨冲击损伤的最佳实践是微骨折，其涉及钻入骨中以释放骨髓，这可以在缺损处形成弱纤维软骨。早期干预很重要，因为完全退变导致全关节置换。问题是，软骨只能持续2-5年，然后必须重复手术，而全关节置换术是一项重大手术，涉及切除大量组织，持续15- 2 - 5年。 琼斯以前的EPSRC研究赠款导致了一种新型材料的发明，该材料在强度，柔韧性和生物降解方面具有独特的性能。事实上，可以精确地选择机械性能以匹配软骨或骨骼。材料也可以自我修复。当3D打印时，该材料能够指导软骨细胞产生关节软骨而不是纤维软骨。Imperial Innovations提交了一项专利，提供了强大的知识产权地位。我们的医疗保健影响伙伴关系将带来生物力学，精密手术，医疗器械制造，技术转让和监管程序以及产品交付方面的专业知识。该团队将评估该设备并开发制造能力，生产具有成本效益，可靠和有效的医疗设备。手术将在尸体膝关节中进行测试，以确定它们是否合适，并确保它们可以提供直接的关节面。然后，生物学测试将确定我们的假设，即该设备可以引导关节负荷下的软骨再生。最终，外科医生将能够将植入物设计规格发送给医疗器械公司，并在几天内收到定制的患者专用设备。

No current surgical technique can regenerate articular cartilage and no current device can mimic the properties of cartilage. This Partnership will accelerate delivery of an innovative medical device for healing cartilage that will cross a frontier in orthopaedic surgery, allowing regeneration of articular cartilage rather than replacement. The device will restore cartilage to its healthy state. The surgical technique will be optimised through a new precise and minimally invasive keyhole technique. Patients will be able to use their knee immediately after the operation and recovery time will be rapid. Osteoarthritis affects 1 in 4 people, is debilitating and costs >£3bn in UK lost economic productivity, >£2.4bn in out-of-work benefits and contributes to the NHS's £5.4bn annual spend on musculoskeletal disorders. Current treatment for severe osteoarthritis is total joint replacement and current best practice for cartilage impact damage is microfracture, which involves drilling into bone to liberate the marrow, which can form weak fibrous cartilage over the defect. Early intervention is important as complete degeneration results in total joint replacement. The problem is that the cartilage only lasts 2-5 years before the procedure must be repeated and total joint replacements are major operations, which involve removing a lot of tissue, and last 15-25 years. Previous EPSRC research grants by Jones led to the invention of a new type of material that produced unique properties in terms of strength, flexibility and biodegradation. In fact, the mechanical properties can be precisely selected to match cartilage or bone. The material can also self heal. When 3-D printed, the material is able to instruct cartilage cells to produce articular cartilage rather than fibrous cartilage. Imperial Innovations submitted a patent, providing a strong IP position. Our Healthcare Impact Partnership will bring expertise in biomechanics, precision surgery, medical device manufacture, technology transfer and regulatory procedures and product delivery. The team will evaluate the device and develop manufacturing capability, producing cost-effective, reliable and effective medical devices. Surgery will be tested in cadaver knees for how they fit and ensure they can provide an immediate articular surface. Then, biological testing will determine whether our hypothesis that the device can guide the regeneration of the cartilage under joint loading. Eventually, surgeons will be able to send implant design specifications to the medical device company and receive a bespoke, patient specific device within a few days.