Science_Illustrated_Australia_-_Issue70_2019

scienceillustrated.com.au | 77

Doctors often
perform surgery
on cancerous bones
by removing the sick
parts. An Australian
team spanning RMIT,
UTS and St Vincent’s
Melbourne is pioneering
‘just-in-time’ 3D-printed
replacements to fi ll the
hole and help the bones
keep their strength.

Patients suffering

from excessive bone

growth are often in

severe pain. With

3D printing, doctors

can quickly and

cheaply make a

required replacement

metal implant that

will maintain size

and shape.

CERVICAL VERTEBRA Metal replaces bones that grow too much.

RM

IT (^) U
NIV
ERS
ITY
VCG
/GE
TTY
(^) IM
AGE
S
3 D^ PRINTERS^
SAVE^ SICK^
SKELETONS.
PhotoD
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