Argyropoulos Athanasios, Botsaris Pantelis N
Laboratory of Mechanical Design, Department of Production Engineering and Management, Democritus University of Thrace, Vasilissis Sofias 12, 67100 Xanthi, Greece.
Methods Protoc. 2021 Aug 6;4(3):54. doi: 10.3390/mps4030054.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a leading manufacturing technique in the medical field. The constantly improving quality of 3D printers has revolutionized the approach to new challenges in medicine for a wide range of applications including otoplasty, medical devices, and tissue engineering. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of an artificial ear splint model applied to the human auricle for the treatment of stick-out protruding ears. The deformity of stick-out protruding ears remains a significant challenge, where the complex and distinctive shape preservation are key factors. To address this challenge, we have developed a protocol that involves photogrammetry techniques, reverse engineering technologies, a smart prototype design, and 3D printing processes. Specifically, we fabricated a 3D printed ear splint model via fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology by testing two materials, a thermoplastic polyester elastomer material (Z-Flex) and polycaprolactone (PCL 100). Our strategy affords a custom-made and patient-specific artificial ear aligner with mechanical properties that ensures sufficient preservation of the auricular shape by applying a force on the helix and antihelix and enables the ears to pin back to the head.
三维（3D）打印是医学领域的一项领先制造技术。3D打印机不断提高的质量彻底改变了应对医学新挑战的方法，其应用范围广泛，包括耳整形术、医疗设备和组织工程。本研究的目的是全面概述一种应用于人类耳廓以治疗招风耳的人工耳夹板模型。招风耳畸形仍然是一个重大挑战，其中复杂且独特的形状保留是关键因素。为应对这一挑战，我们开发了一种方案，该方案涉及摄影测量技术、逆向工程技术、智能原型设计和3D打印工艺。具体而言，我们通过熔融沉积建模（FDM）技术，测试了两种材料——热塑性聚酯弹性体材料（Z-Flex）和聚己内酯（PCL 100），制作了一个3D打印耳夹板模型。我们的策略提供了一种定制的、针对患者的人工耳矫正器，其机械性能通过对耳轮和对耳轮施加力来确保充分保留耳廓形状，并使耳朵能够向后贴于头部。
