A team of Australian researchers is currently working on a project to 3D print stem cells for the reconstruction of human skulls.
Patients at the Royal Perth Hospital, whose skulls have been severely damaged or who have undergone brain surgery resulting in a part of their skull being removed, will be part of the trial to be performed next year.
The team – a surgeon, two engineers, a neurosurgeon and chief scientist – will work with a Vienna-based 3D printing company to produce 3D printed bio-ceramic scaffolds, which are later injected with stem cells, before fitted to the patient’s skull.
Neurosurgeon Marc Coughlan further explains: “What we’re trying to do is take it one step further and have the ceramic resorb and then be only left with the patient’s bone, which would be exactly the same as having the skull back.”
The project is part of a $2 Million funding grant by the Western Australian government.
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