Application of Rapid Manufacturing Techniques in Support of Maxillofacial Treatment
PROJECT OVERVIEW
There are some 30,000 patients per annum in the UK requiring maxillofacial
therapies, resulting from congenital conditions, surgery, or trauma. Current
therapies are dependant upon craft based, and often patient-distressing, methods. This project seeks to build upon a demonstration-of-concept and develop systematic techniques and business models that integrate computer imaging, reverse engineering, and direct writing that will both create new business opportunities within the complex healthcare environment and enhance patient therapy. The manufacturing methodology will be trialled across an extended patient range, and extended to new potential therapies. The specific objectives of the research are:
- a) to replace craft based maxillofacial therapies with technology based reverse engineering and direct write processes
- b) to demonstrate clinical efficacy and process repeatability within a general hospital setting
- c) to extend proof of concept to two additional therapies
- d) to create robust CAD and process software to control the reverse engineering process
- e) to establish standardized therapy delivery protocols that can be patient customised
- f) to generate business models that meet healthcare industry constraints of cost, culture, and legislation
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