RapidGEN - Personalized Modeling and Rapid Manufacturing of Individual Knee Implants
Problem Statement
So far patient specific implants are considered to be relatively expensive due to the additionally necessary CT-imaging and the time-consuming conventional manufacturing. In addition to radiation exposure, the usage of patient-specific biomechanical modeling and additive manufacturing techniques in the clinical routine is, at present, very expensive.
Aim of the Project
The RapidGEN project aims at increasing the benefit for knee endoprosthesis patients by means of patient-specific, tailored knee implants. From a socio-economic point of view RapidGEN aims at reducing the cost of health care by improving the therapeutic outcome.
Through the combination of innovative techniques and their implementation in a total integrated workflow, a quick transfer of the project findings into the clinical practice can be guaranteed. The advantages are obvious: by applying of optimized 3D imaging, image- and model-based planning of personalized implants not only the radiation exposure can be reduced or even avoided, but also the evaluation of the individual soft tissue state can be enhanced realizing, therefore, the full potential of personalized knee implants. By means of efficient imaging, planning, manufacturing, time- and cost-efficient surgical implantation and integrated quality control with improved therapeutic results, overall related costs will be significantly reduced.
Partner
- Chair of Medical Engineering, Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University (project coordinator)
- Chair for Laser Technology, RWTH Aachen University
- Institute for Materials Applications in Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University
- Department of Orthopedicsand Traumatology - Focus on Orthopaedics, University Hospital Aachen
- Department of Diagnosticand InterventionalRadiology, University Hospital Aachen
- Realizer GmbH, Borchen
- SurgiTAIX AG, Herzogenrath
- ConforMIS Inc., Burlington, USA (associate partner)
Funding
The RapidGEN project is funded by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and by the European Union in the context of the European Regional Development Fund.
(Project term: 7/2012-12/2014)