A cancer patient successfully received a 3D-printed titanium sternum and rib cage implant, marking a groundbreaking moment in thoracic surgery and biomedical engineering.
The implant was created using advanced 3D printing technology developed by CSIRO (the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia). The project was made possible with a specialized 3D-printing device valued at 2.3 million AUD. After manufacturing, the customized implant was sent to surgeons in Spain, where the transplant procedure was performed successfully.
According to Alex Kingsbury, lead researcher at CSIRO, the process was highly sophisticated—each layer of the implant was precisely constructed until the final structure was seamlessly formed.
“3D printing is the most suitable method because implants must be customized for each patient. No two human bodies are the same.”
Due to the limitations and risks associated with traditional manufacturing methods, Spanish surgeons collaborated with the Australian medical-device company Anatomics. Together, they developed an implant uniquely tailored to the patient’s anatomy.
The patient, diagnosed with chest wall sarcoma—a tumor growing around the ribs and sternum—opted for the 3D-printed titanium implant instead of conventional plated reconstruction.
CSIRO confirmed that the patient was discharged in good health and continued recovering just 15 days after surgery.
Dr. Mia Woodruff of Queensland University of Technology, a researcher in the field of 3D printing, emphasized the importance of ensuring that all surgeons understand the manufacturing process and the structural requirements needed to accurately replicate parts of the human body.