In a previous article, we explored how medicine is learning from industry. Industrial companies are indeed increasingly driving medical innovation, leveraging their expertise to advance and reshape healthcare. For instance, semiconductor leader STMicroelectronics is revolutionizing cardiac monitoring and brain measurement technology in collaboration with two medical partners. Similarly, digital simulation software companies PTC and Hexagon played a key role in developing a groundbreaking 3D-printed scapula implant for a 16-year-old cancer patient.
Digital transformation and design software companies are revolutionizing healthcare by bringing cutting-edge industrial technology into the medical field. Their role in the development of a groundbreaking 3D-printed scapula implant for a 16-year-old cancer patient showcases the transformative potential of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Bridging Industrial Innovation and Healthcare Transformation
In a groundbreaking medical advancement, a 16-year-old cancer patient received a fully customized, 3D-printed titanium scapula implant after the removal of her shoulder blade due to a high-grade malignant tumor. This pioneering procedure was the result of a collaboration between the Levin Center for 3D Printing and Surgical Innovation at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, global software company PTC, and simulation software designers Hexagon.
By leveraging their expertise in industrial design and engineering—commonly used in sectors like aerospace—PTC and Hexagon helped develop a digital twin of the patient’s anatomy. This innovation enabled precise surgical planning and the design of a bioactive implant that perfectly fits the patient’s unique structure while promoting tissue integration.
Digital Twin
Dr. Solomon Dadia, Orthopedic Oncology Surgeon and Head of the Surgical Innovation and 3D Printing Unit at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, emphasized the uniqueness of this collaboration, stating that such a deep integration of biomechanics and surgical innovation is unprecedented.
The process involved creating a digital twin of the patient’s anatomy, allowing for precise preoperative planning and the design of a bioactive implant that promotes tissue growth and ensures a perfect fit.
Dr. Ronen Ben Horin, VP of Technology at PTC, emphasized the importance of applying industrial-grade design tools to healthcare, stating,
“The same principles that drive innovation in aerospace and automotive industries can also create life-changing solutions in medicine.”
He expressed hope that more hospitals worldwide will adopt advanced digital technologies to make such procedures more accessible and cost-effective.
This case exemplifies the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing medical treatments, demonstrating how industrial design and engineering can significantly enhance patient outcomes.
For more info on this topic, read the article published in our sister publication, MedicalExpo e-magazine.
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