CANBERRA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- An Australian company has created the first ever 3D-printed rib cage to be implanted into a patient in the United States, according to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Thursday.
Anatomics, an Australian medical device company, created a titanium and polymer steel rib cage with its "PoreStar" technology which provides "bone-like" architecture to help the synthetic rib cage integrate with natural tissue.
Penelope Heller, a patient from New York who had her sternum removed after being diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, was the recipient of the transplant, the second 3D-printed sternum and rib cage composite implanted into a person worldwide.
Chondrosarcoma is a rare type of bone cancer that is resistant to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The surgery was made possible by a partnership between Anatomics and the CSIRO, Australia's peak scientific body.
"I'm proud of our work with Anatomics that has enabled patients around the world to lead normal lives," Keith McLean, the CSIRO's director of manufacturing, said in a media release on Thursday.
The partnership previously produced 3D-printed sternum and rib cage prosthetics for a Spanish cancer patient in 2015 and again for a man in Britain in 2016.
"Anatomics technology is shaping the future of the prosthetics industry using improvements in scanning, design and fabrication technology," said Paul D'Urso, Anatomics' executive chairman.
"Anatomics' advanced capabilities in personalised healthcare have opened new doors for patients in need of implants that are customised for them rather than having to use mass produced 'off-the-shelf' devices that don't fit as well."
