3D-printed spine disc ‘has given me my whole world back’

3D-printed spine disc ‘has given me my whole world back’

An industry collaboration between surgeons and engineers has been recognised for its life-changing impact.

Peak industry body Engineers Australia has named Professor Milan Brandt, technical director of RMIT University’s Advanced Manufacturing Precinct, a Centenary Hero for the impact of his work.

The accolade, announced this year to celebrate 100 years of Engineers Australia, is reserved for engineers who have ’pushed boundaries, defied odds, and come up with innovations that no-one could have imagined 100 years ago’.

Brandt led research into Australia’s first locally-made 3D printed spinal implant, which was successfully delivered to the patient Amanda Gorvin in 2015.  

Born with a rare spinal defect that stops one vertebra from fully forming, Gorvin says her quality of life had slumped to a ‘zero out of 10’, while her pain was an ’11 out of 10’. 

“I had this chronic pain that impacted my entire life,” she says.

Commercially available spinal implants, which did not fit the specific gap in Gorvin’s spine, were deemed unsuitable.

So RMIT researchers, medical implant producer Anatomics and neurosurgeon Dr Marc Coughlan, teamed up to print and insert a custom designed implant for her.  

The project had a short time frame - just six weeks from design to manufacture and implantation -  and Brandt says designing a non-uniform structure that was able to support someone’s full body weight presented a significant challenge.

But they eventually produced a lattice titanium cage that would do just that, using RMIT-developed software tools and 3D laser printers to build the implant, layer by layer, from titanium metal powder.

3D-printed titanium lattice cage to fit perfectly into the spine. 3D-printed titanium lattice cage to fit perfectly into the spine.

The operation was a success and, just days into rehabilitation, Gorvin started walking. 

A few weeks later she was almost completely pain free. 

“I feel so blessed: this piece has given me my whole world back,” says Gorvin, who’s since become a mother. 

“The relationship with the surgeons and the engineers working together to develop a piece – to the millimetre perfect – to go into my spine was unbelievable.” 

Amanda Gorvin received the first Australian 3D printed spinal implant, designed by RMIT University engineers. Amanda Gorvin received the first Australian 3D printed spinal implant, designed by RMIT University engineers.

“We were absolutely thrilled by the successful outcome,” says Brandt.

“This was the first such implant printed in Australia and implanted into a patient and research we’d worked on over many years into 3D printing was able to be used in a practical sense.”

The project’s success has since taken Milan and his team in a new direction, designing next generation implants for bone cancer patients. 

This collaboration with Stryker, University of Technology Sydney, Innovative Manufacturing CRC and St Vincent’s Hospital is 3D-printing custom bone replacements where bone cancer tumours have been removed, allowing for as much as possible of the limb to be saved.

3d-printed bone implant. 3d-printed bone implant.

Brandt said industry collaboration has been the key to value creation at the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct, especially in the areas of biomedical devices, aerospace, defence and mining industries.

“We look to work with forward-thinking manufacturing companies, independent of size or background, in order to create an environment for innovation and collaboration where we can all learn and benefit from the interaction," he says.

 

Story: Michael Quin

09 July 2019

Share

09 July 2019

Share

  • Advanced Materials
  • Research
  • Industry
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Science and technology
Engage

Related News

news-diamond-titanium-close-1220px.jpg

Diamond power could be a medical implant’s best friend

RMIT researchers have created an experimental 3D-printed diamond–titanium device that generates electricity from flowing liquid and receives wireless power through tissue making it possible to remotely sense changes in flow.

Ryan01web.jpg

Stronger, cheaper titanium a 'leap forward' for industry

Engineers from RMIT University have produced a new type of 3D-printed titanium that’s about a third cheaper than commonly used titanium alloys. 

news-advanced-robotics-1220px.jpg

Tiny device promises new tech with a human touch

Engineers at RMIT University have invented a small ‘neuromorphic’ device that detects hand movement, stores memories and processes information like a human brain, without the need for an external computer.

news-spongy-water-1220px.jpg

Smart spongy device captures water from thin air

Engineers from Australia and China have invented a sponge-like device that captures water from thin air and then releases it in a cup using the sun’s energy, even in low humidity where other technologies such as fog harvesting and radiative cooling have struggled.

Show more
aboriginal flag float-start torres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information