Case study
We partnered with Victorian biotech company Anatomics and St Vincent's Hospital in a world-first surgery to assist a cancer patient.
Avoiding the need for amputation
Bone cancer (sarcoma) is a rare form of cancer. While treatment methods for bone cancer can vary, amputation of the affected area is sometimes necessary.
A Victorian patient with cancer of the calcaneus, or heel bone, was facing amputation of the leg below the knee, before their surgeon at St Vincent's Hospital had a vision for an alternative treatment.
Bringing together the brightest minds
After hearing about our 3D printing work, St Vincent's Hospital approached us with the idea for a metallic implant which would support the body's weight.
At the time, we were collaborating with Victorian-based biotech company Anatomics on metallic implant technology. We brought Anatomics into the discussion to draw their experience as a certified custom medical device manufacturer.
Together, we designed the ideal heel implant and then used our Arcam 3D printer to produce it out of titanium. Three days later it was implanted by surgeons at St Vincent's Hospital.
CSIRO and Anatomics produced this titanium heel bone implant using CSIRO's state-of-the-art Arcam 3D printer. Image courtesy Anatomics.
CSIRO and Anatomics produced this titanium heel bone implant using CSIRO's state-of-the-art Arcam 3D printer. Image courtesy Anatomics.
3D printing delivers in emergencies
This Australian collaboration saved the patient's leg from immediate amputation.
It took only two weeks from the first initial phone call to surgery, demonstrating how Australian manufacturers and healthcare providers can use 3D printing to quickly design, test and produce customised biomedical products locally.
Our innovative 3D titanium implants could transform healthcare and enhance the quality of people's lives around the globe.
We partner with small and large companies, government and industry in Australia and around the world.