Basel, March 2025 – A significant breakthrough in personalized medicine has been achieved at the University Hospital Basel (USB): for the first time, a 3D-printed chin implant, custom-designed for a patient, was successfully implanted within the hospital. The Clinic for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (MKG), led by Prof. Florian M. Thieringer and his research group Swiss MAM, along with Deputy Head Dr. Neha Sharma, PhD, is setting new standards in modern medical technology.

With this milestone, the MKG Clinic at the University Hospital Basel positions itself among the world’s leading centers in medical 3D printing and patient-specific implants, manufactured at the point of care while adhering to the latest Medical Device Regulation (MDR). Compliance with these regulations ensures not only the safety and effectiveness of treatments for patients but also highlights USB’s commitment to ethical and transparent research and patient-centered therapies.

The Future of Medicine: 3D Technologies Revolutionizing Implant Manufacturing

3D printing technology represents a paradigm shift in medical care. While conventional implants often require compromises in fit, point-of-care manufacturing using 3D printing allows for unprecedented precision and personalization. This innovation significantly reduces production time—from several weeks to just a few days—and minimizes complication risks through optimal anatomical adaptation.

Experts predict that by 2030, the global market for 3D-printed surgical implants will triple. The University Hospital Basel is taking a pioneering role in point-of-care manufacturing of patient-specific implants and is already preparing the next generation of bioresorbable and functionalized implants.

An Innovative Point-of-Care Digitalization and Manufacturing Process

The creation of a personalized implant follows a precise digital workflow:

1. A high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scan captures the patient’s unique anatomy. Additionally, radiation-free 3D facial surface scans support the planning process.
2. Using advanced 3D modeling software, the implant is designed to ensure a perfect fit.
3. The implant is printed directly at the hospital using a biocompatible high-performance polymer (Evonik VESTAKEEP® i4 3DF PEEK) on a medical-grade 3D Systems EXT 220 MED printer.
4. Post-processing, cleaning, and sterilization are carried out by specialists on-site.
5. The result: a personalized implant, ready for surgery—enabling seamless and cutting-edge patient treatment.

By integrating point-of-care 3D printing, USB is setting new standards in medical innovation, enabling the production of high-quality, personalized implants directly at the hospital. Utilizing this technology at the point of care leads to shorter wait times, reduced logistics costs, and significantly improved patient care.

Transformative Potential for Healthcare

The point-of-care production of implants via 3D printing offers numerous advantages:

• Economic efficiency: Reducing inventory and logistics costs through on-demand production.
• Shorter treatment times: Faster availability of patient-specific implants leads to shorter hospital stays.
• Improved clinical outcomes: Higher precision results in shorter surgical times, smaller incisions (minimally invasive surgery), reduced complication risks, and faster healing.
• Decentralized manufacturing: Future access to cutting-edge implants even in remote regions.

Advancing Medical Innovation for Personalized Implants

This achievement builds on previous successes, including the development of a patient-specific, 3D-printed cranial implant by the Swiss MAM team. Successfully implanted in August 2023 for neurosurgical reconstruction, this breakthrough paved the way for further advancements in digital point-of-care manufacturing.

The project was supported by the Innovation Focus – Regenerative Surgery at the University Hospital Basel and significantly funded by the Werner Siemens Foundation as part of the MIRACLE II project. This generous funding enabled the development and implementation of cutting-edge 3D printing technologies for implant manufacturing, playing a crucial role in this milestone’s success.

Significant contributions also came from the Department of Biomedical Engineering (DBE) at the University of Basel, which is driving forward solutions for personalized treatments. This collaboration has been essential in advancing point-of-care manufacturing and ensuring that personalized implants meet the highest regulatory and quality standards.

Together with our partners, including POC APP AG from Basel—who played a crucial role in product development in accordance with Medical Device Regulation MDR 2017/745 and quality management—we have now reached the next stage in the development and production of patient-specific facial implants within the hospital.

With this, the University Hospital Basel is setting new benchmarks in personalized medicine and reinforcing its commitment to innovative solutions that significantly improve patients’ lives. The future of personalized implant manufacturing has begun—and the University Hospital Basel is at the forefront of this medical revolution.

For more information:
University Hospital Basel
Marketing & Communications Department
Caroline Johnson, Press Officer
Tel. +41 61 328 44 77, caroline.johnson@usb.ch
Hebelstrasse 32
CH 4031 Basel