In the medical field, additive manufacturing technology can enable the personalization of implants by considering patient-specific anatomy and pathology. The conventional pipeline of in vitro (bio)printing and implantation presents some limitations, including increased risk of infection due to implant manipulation, greater damage to the surrounding tissues due to implant fixation, and a need for modifications in the implant to adapt to intraoperative deviations in surgical planning. To tackle these issues, in situ (bio)printing proposes the direct fabrication of the implant directly at the desired location in the body of the patient, using robotic systems that allow the deposition of material and the fabrication of complex structures with high precision.

Thus, the goal of this research project is to develop robotic systems that are capable of in situ bioprinting in a reliable, precise, and adaptive manner. To do so, both large-scale robotic arms as well as endoscopic and miniature robotic solutions will be explored to perform the printing process. Additionally, sensing and navigation systems will be integrated together with material-dependent dispensing mechanisms.

This project is a joint collaboration between the BIROMED-Lab group and the Swiss MAM group. Link to the project website from the Swiss MAM group here.

Project leader: Ruben Martin Rodriguez