For the first time in the world: 3D printed human ear, successfully implanted in a girl

The groundbreaking surgery was chaired by Dr. Arturo Bonilla, founder and director of the Microtia Institute of Congenital Ear Deformities in San Antonio, Texas - USA.

According to Medical Xpress, the surgery was performed as part of an early-stage clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of 3D-printed ear implants for people with microtia, a birth defect with a small outer ear. , deformity due to not being formed properly.

The ear is gradually "mature" in the laboratory thanks to the 3D printed "skeleton" which is the perfect opposite design of the healthy ear - (Photo: 3DBio Therapeutics)

Currently, microtia patients receive replacement ear reconstruction by grafting cartilage from the patient's ribs or using synthetic materials (porous polyethylene - PPE) to reconstruct the outer ear.

The new technique creates a more perfect ear for the patient: completely biomaterial, part of the patient's body, and at the same time perfect in appearance - more similar to the other ear than to the other ear. rib cartilage.

The new implant, called AuriNovo, was developed by 3DBio Therapeutics, in collaboration with the Microtia Institute of Congenital Ear Deformities.

The procedure involves 3D scanning the patient's contralateral ear to create a blueprint, then collecting a sample of their ear cartilage cells and culturing them in just the right amount.

These cells are mixed with collagen-based bio-ink, which is shaped into the outer ear with the help of a biodegradable 3D printed shell, allowing the new ear to grow exactly according to the original design.

The cells are cultured into a "young ear" before being implanted in a 3D print

The clinical trial is expected to involve 11 patients and is underway in California and Texas. The first patient mentioned above is a young girl who received an ear transplant more than 1 month ago. Now the incision has almost completely healed, the implanted ear adapts perfectly to the body.

Photo taken before surgery and May 31st, ie 1 month after surgery

According to Dr. Bonilla, ear transplants based on 3D printing technology also help to provide less invasive surgery than traditional methods, because there is no need for surgery to remove rib cartilage and the plastic surgery is also less complicated. much.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), microtia occurs in 1 in 2,000-10,000 newborns, with varying degrees of deformity. Factors that may increase the risk include gestational diabetes or the mother's diet lacking in carbohydrates and folic acid.