Wollongong-made 3D-bioprinters to correct ear deformities, have hit the world stage.
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Two customised bioprinters designed and manufactured in Wollongong have been dispatched to Indian medical device manufacturers.
These Indian prosthetists now have access to the latest advances in 3D bioprinting to correct ear deformities.
This comes on the back of a strategic collaboration between University of Wollongong (UOW) and Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ) in India.
ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) researchers from UOW sent the 3D Genii printer to AMTZ.
The printer is designed to print implantable, flexible, customised prosthetic ears that match the anatomy of patients suffering from microtia (a congenital deformity of the ear that has a heightened rate of disease in India compared to Australia).
The printer scans the patient's ear using smart phone software, and the file is uploaded for printing.
ACES director, Distinguished Professor Gordon Wallace, said the delivery of printers to India was an exciting step in accelerating new technologies, creating new industries and building local medtech infrastructure for both Australia and India.
"We've seen some impressive advances in the partnership between UOW and AMTZ in terms of identifying areas of clinical need, developing the best strategies to meet that need, and bringing together the knowledge and expertise to deliver the most effective solution in the least amount of time," Professor Wallace said.
"Both India and Australia have challenges in delivering health innovations to their rural areas. We hope these latest developments will help in reaching out to those patients and healthcare professionals who can work remotely with us to access 3D printing technologies."
AMTZ will also take receipt of the 3DREDI, a locally designed and manufactured 3D bioprinting research and education system that equips users with the essential hardware and skills to embark on projects in the rapidly emerging bioprinting industry.
It also features an intuitive research bioprinting platform that is capable of creating structures containing living cells.
The AMTZ team will utilise the 3DREDI system to advance their knowledge in bioprinting while focusing on the use of 3D bioprinted structures for cardiac regeneration.
UOW's Global Brand Ambassador, Adam Gilchrist said the 3D bioprinting collaboration has much to offer both India and Australia in advancing research, training and manufacturing.
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
