Robotic-Assisted 3D Bio-printing for Repairing Bone and Cartilage Defects through a Minimally Invasive Approach

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 6;9(1):3746. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-38972-2.

Abstract

There is an unmet need for new techniques and methods of healing critical size tissue defects, by further reduction of invasiveness in implant, cell and tissue-based surgery. This paper presents the development of a new regenerative medicine that combines 3D bio-printing and robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery techniques to meet this need. We investigated the feasibility of Remote Centre of Motion (RCM) and viscous material extrusion 3D printing. A hypothetical, intra-articular, regenerative medicine-based treatment technique for focal cartilage defects of the knee was used as a potential example of the application of 3D printing in vivo. The results of this study suggest, that RCM mechanism is feasible with viscous material extrusion 3D printing processes, without a major trade-off in imprint quality. The achieved printing accuracy at an average dimensional error of 0.06 ± 0.14 mm in this new modality of 3D printing is comparable to those described in literature for other types of bio-printing. Robotic assisted 3D bio-printing demonstrated here is a viable option for focal cartilage defect restoration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bioprinting / instrumentation*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / physiology*
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / instrumentation
  • Models, Biological
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional / instrumentation*
  • Regeneration
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures / methods*
  • Tissue Engineering