3d printed prosthesis：PEEK skull implant – Example 43
The rise of 3D printed PEEK skull implants in the medical field has shown many advantages over traditional implant materials, bringing new hope to patients with skull defects.
3d printed prosthesis：PEEK skull implant – Example 43
In the medical field, 3D printed PEEK skull implants are rapidly emerging. Skull defects are usually caused by skull deformities, surgical procedures related to brain tumor removal, or accidental trauma. In order to repair this defect, titanium alloy materials or biocompatible PEEK polymers are traditionally used in medicine to make skull implants to replace human bones with 3D printing technology, and there are many clinical cases at home and abroad.
Medical science has strict requirements for cranial implants, which must first be accurately matched with the data of the patient's defect site, and CT reconstruction and 3D printing are required to achieve precision medicine. In addition, the selected material should meet biocompatibility and good mechanical properties. The elastic modulus of PEEK material is very close to that of human bone, and many hospitals are also carrying out clinical surgery on PEEK implants, and the medical team designs a model of the skull implant that matches the patient through CT reconstruction, and then prints it with a 3D printer, sterilizes it, and performs the implant surgery.
PEEK has an extremely high melting point and is difficult to process. At present, there are two main methods of forming PEEK materials in China: CNC machining and 3D printing. CNC machining is the mainstream method, but the material waste is serious and the processing cost is high. 3D printing, on the other hand, improves the flexibility of PEEK manufacturing, overcoming difficulties such as material waste, difficult processing, and faster manufacturing.
PEEK has three outstanding advantages over metal implants. First, the elastic modulus of PEEK is close to that of cortical bone, which weakens or eliminates the stress shielding effect, which is conducive to osseointegration and long-term implant stability. Second, PEEK can transmit X-rays, CT or MRI scans without artifacts, easy to monitor bone growth and healing process, and has good biocompatibility, wear resistance, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, easy processing, etc., lighter weight than metal materials. Third, PEEK and its composites have good wear resistance, which can effectively avoid problems such as peri-implant inflammation and osteolysis caused by wear particles.
The rise of 3D printed PEEK skull implants in the medical field has shown many advantages over traditional implant materials, bringing new hope to patients with skull defects.
The 43rd PEEK skull implant surgery demonstrated the excellence of 3D printing in the medical field, where a detailed CT scan was performed on the patient to obtain accurate cranial data. Subsequently, 3D printing was used to design and print a personalized PEEK skull implant for the specific patient. The implant is rigorously sterilized and placed precisely into the patient's skull defect. During the procedure, the doctors ensure the accurate placement and fixation of the implants with their superb skills and extensive experience.
The results are significant. PEEK material has good biocompatibility and reduces implant-induced inflammation and rejection. Its mechanical properties are stable, which can effectively protect brain tissue and reduce the impact of external forces on the brain. At the same time, the PEEK material can be customized according to the shape of the patient's skull, and the defect area is precisely fitted for better repair. Patients recover well after surgery and have a low complication rate. Postoperative examination reveals that the PEEK skull implant is tightly integrated with the patient's skull, anatomically symmetrical, well-shaped, and cosmetic. The patient's mental state has also improved significantly, and he has regained his confidence in life.
The 43rd PEEK skull implant surgery brings new hope to patients with skull defects, demonstrating the great potential of 3D printing technology in the medical field.
As a high-performance special engineering plastic, PEEK material has many excellent properties and plays an important role in medical and other fields.
1. Biocompatibility:
PEEK has excellent biocompatibility, and the material is non-cytotoxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, and does not cause allergies, without any side effects. Its use in the medical field, such as cranial implants, ensures good compatibility with human tissues and reduces the risk of implant-induced inflammation and rejection.
2. Visibility:
PEEK is X-ray penetrating and the X-ray film is artifact-free. This makes it possible to perform surgery with the aid of a CT scan or MRI, allowing the surgeon to easily adjust the implant position during the procedure and monitor the bone growth and healing process after surgery. For example, in the 42nd case of PEEK cranial implant surgery, good visibility provided great convenience for the surgeon's precise operation and postoperative follow-up.
3. Disinfection Performance:
PEEK can be used in pressurized hot water or steam at 300°C and can withstand up to 3,000 cycles of autoclaving at 134°C. This excellent sterilization property makes it ideal for the production of surgical or dental equipment that requires high sterilization requirements and requires repeated use. For cranial implants, strict disinfection treatment can effectively avoid postoperative infection and improve the safety and success rate of surgery.
4. Adjustable mechanical:
The elastic modulus of PEEK is very close to that of human bone, which means that it can be adapted to the specific needs of different patients to achieve a perfect fit to the defect. In terms of mechanical properties, PEEK has both toughness and rigidity, and has outstanding fatigue resistance under alternating stress, which is comparable to alloy materials. It has the characteristics of high tensile strength, high elastic modulus, high hardness and impact resistance, which can effectively protect brain tissue and reduce the impact of external force on the brain. At the same time, PEEK material also has good self-lubrication and corrosion resistance, except for concentrated sulfuric acid, insoluble in any solvent and strong acid, strong alkali, hydrolysis resistance, high chemical stability. These properties allow PEEK skull implants to maintain stable performance over long-term use, providing patients with reliable outcomes.