Patient Specific Implants
Patient Specific
PEEK Implants
A custom built 380°C PEEK 3D printer producing CT derived maxillofacial implants at a fraction of commercial cost.
★ First Prize — MDU National Technology Day Exhibition · Featured in The Tribune, May 2024
Custom PEEK 3D Printer · UIET, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
The Tribune · May 2024 — Jaw dropping innovation: Rohtak varsity implant aims to transform oral surgery
The Problem
Titanium, the current standard in oral implants, is rigid and can cause secondary bone and tissue damage. Commercial patient specific PEEK implants are priced beyond reach for most Indian institutions. Each patient requires a unique implant derived from their own imaging data.
The Solution
In collaboration with the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, UIET, MDU Rohtak, a custom PEEK 3D printer was built from scratch with nozzle temperature above 380°C and a controlled heated chamber. PEEK absorbs impact like natural bone, is biocompatible, and withstands sterilisation up to 500°C. Each implant is derived from the patient's CT scan via Mimics software for segmentation and patient specific CAD modelling.
Biodesign Stage Progress
| Code | Stage | Status | What Was Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Needs Exploration | ✓ Complete | Identified titanium implant limitations: rigidity, secondary bone damage, prohibitive cost |
| 1.3 | Need Statement | ✓ Complete | Maxillofacial patients need affordable, biocompatible, patient specific implants |
| 2.2 | Existing Solutions | ✓ Complete | Benchmarked against titanium and commercial PEEK printers; cost identified as primary barrier |
| 2.4 | Market Analysis | ✓ Complete | Commercial medical grade PEEK printing places implants out of reach for most Indian institutions |
| 3.1 | Ideation | ✓ Complete | Conceived in house PEEK 3D printer build; CT to Mimics to implant workflow designed |
| 4.5 | Prototyping | ✓ Complete | Custom PEEK printer built; patient specific implants fabricated and used intraoperatively |
| 4.6 | Concept Testing | ► Active | Cadaveric validation planned prior to formal clinical trials |
| 5+ | Implementation | ○ Pending | Regulatory submission, clinical trial design, and commercialisation pathway to be developed |