Objective:

1. Large segmental bone defects are difficult to treat in conventional ways. Risk of infection and revision surgery likelihood is high.
2. Currently 8 clinical cases, which were treated with a patient specific bone scaffold to regenerate bone, showed no infection or need for revision surgery needed so far. Bone regrowth has been demonstrated in the patients.
3. Clinician-Scientist interaction and Bench-to-Bedside translation remains problematic.

Alignment within M3D Innovation:

1. Development of a multiscale imaging and manufacturing workflow.
2. Aligns well with plate design fixation project P5-7, biodegradable scaffolds P5-8, and P2-2 Quality Standards for AM parts.

Approach:

1. Definition of each individual step of the bone scaffold manufacturing process.
2. Working in close collaborations with clinicians to define shortfalls of the bench to bedside process.
3. Development of a simplified process from clinical CT data to 3D printable models (without the Materialise Suite).
4. Optimisation of the overall workflow from CT imaging to 3D printing.
5. Creation of a scaffold design library suitable for different anatomical locations and surgical approaches.

Key Milestones:

1. Definition of the key modules of a patient specific bone scaffold design.
2. Semi-automated process of patient specific bone scaffold design from CT data.
3. Outlook on regulatory requirements.