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Tissue transformation mold design and stereolithography fabrication

Yihao Zheng (Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
Yancheng Wang (Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
Roland K. Chen (Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
Sagar Deshpande (Plastic Surgery, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
Noah S. Nelson (Plastic Surgery, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
Steven R. Buchman (Plastic Surgery, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
Albert J. Shih (Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)

Rapid Prototyping Journal

ISSN: 1355-2546

Article publication date: 16 January 2017

514

Abstract

Purpose

To obtain a vascularized autologous bone graft by in-vivo tissue transformation, a biocompatible tissue transformation mold (TTM) is needed. An ideal TTM is of high geometric accuracy and X-ray radiolucent for monitoring the bone tissue formation. The purpose of this study is to present the TTM design and fabrication process, using 3D reconstruction, stereolithography (SLA) and silicone molding.

Design/methodology/approach

The rat mandible, the targeted bone graft, was scanned by micro-computed tomography (CT). From the micro-CT images, the 3D mandible model was identified and used as the cavity geometry to design the TTM. The TTM was fabricated by molding the biocompatible and radiolucent silicone in the SLA molds. This TTM was implanted in a rat for in vivo tests on its biocompatibility and X-ray radiolucency.

Findings

SLA can fabricate the TTM with a cavity shape that accurately replicates that of the rat mandible. The bone formation inside of the silicone TTM can be observed by X-ray. The TTM is feasible for in vivo tissue transformation for vascularized bone reconstruction.

Research limitations/implications

Research of the dimensional and geometrical accuracy of the TTM cavity is required in the future study of this process.

Practical implications

The TTM fabricated in this presented approach has been used for in-vivo tissue transformation. This technique can be implemented for bone reconstruction.

Originality/value

The precision fabrication of the TTMs for in-vivo tissue transformation into autogenous vascularized bone grafts with complex structures was achieved by using SLA, micro-CT and silicone molding.

Keywords

Citation

Zheng, Y., Wang, Y., Chen, R.K., Deshpande, S., Nelson, N.S., Buchman, S.R. and Shih, A.J. (2017), "Tissue transformation mold design and stereolithography fabrication", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 162-168. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-10-2015-0133

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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