Without a doubt, 3D printing has had the most impact on the medical industry, with the technology providing replacement parts for bones, teeth and even blood. But now, one U.S company are focusing their attention on cancer, survivors of breast cancer to be precise, and they plan to use 3D printing to help cancer patients who have lost breast tissue.
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Texas based TeVido BioDevices is utilizing 3D printing to create breast implants for sufferers who have had a lumpectomy. Typically, when a surgeon removes the cancerous lump, they do not touch the healthy breast tissue that surrounds it. This can leave a dimple or large dent in the breast if the patient does not opt for a full reconstruction.
Dr Thomas Boland is the co-founder of TeVido, and says that for some women, a full reconstruction is not an option.
“About 150,000 women a year have lumpectomies due to breast cancer and they have no good option for reconstruction. They even opt for the removal of the entire breast because then they can actually have a complete reconstruction – like Angelina Jolie did,” Dr. Boland said.
The team at TeVido based their idea on the original reconstruction method, where fat is used to plug the gap left by the removal of the tumour. This is called ‘fat grafting’, however, this procedure often fails as the fat typically reabsorbs back into the body. Dr Thomas believes that by using bespoke 3D printed implants that are exact replicas of the removed tumour, the space will be filled. Not only will there be a cosmetic benefit to the patient, but the 3D implants will be made using the person’s own cells, which helps to eliminate the risk of rejection:
“We’re working to take fat cells through liposuction from the patients, then having them treated, printed and fitted to the lump removal for implant,” said Dr Boland.
At present the team are still working with mice, and state that clinical trials with humans are about four years away, but they have just received a grant worth $150,000 from Phase I SBIR, meaning they can continue with their research.
The company have also been short listed to compete in the Martha and Kozo Shimano Entrepreneur Accelerator Program phase of the LIVESTRONG Foundation’s Big C competition.
Read more at Inside 3DP.