In the medical field, additive manufacturing technology can enable the personalization of implants by considering patient-specific anatomy and pathology. Precise placement of patient-specific implant material is essential for the surgical outcome and decreases the risk of implant failure. We aim to enable personalized implants to be printed with high precision directly at the desired location inside the patient body, reducing the required incision size as well as the need for additional implant fixation with screws.

The goal of this research project is to develop a miniature robot that can perform minimally invasive 3D printing at the desired location inside the patient body. We investigate dispensing systems, 3D printing materials, and robotic designs for minimally invasive 3D printing.

Project leader: Yukiko Tomooka