An American medical team announced Thursday (2) that they have implanted a human ear created from a patient’s cells for the first time with a 3D printer, a procedure that could help people suffering from a rare birth defect.
The operation was performed as part of a clinical trial involving 11 patients in California and Texas that aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this type of implant for those affected by microtia, a condition in which the outer ear does not develop properly. .
The implant’s name, AuriNovo, was developed by the company 3DBio Therapeutics, and the surgery was performed by Arturo Bonilla, the founder of an institute in San Antonio, Texas that specializes in the treatment of this malformation.
“As a doctor who has treated thousands of children affected by microtia across the country and around the world, I am excited about this technology and what it can mean for patients and their families,” the surgeon said in a statement from the company.
The procedure is performed with cartilage cells taken from the person’s own ear. They are then grown to obtain a sufficient amount and mixed with a collagen hydrogel. This mixture is used to print the implant.
The implant is surrounded by a printed and biodegradable cover that is absorbed by the patient’s body over time.
The transplanted ear should improve the look and feel of a natural ear, including its flexibility.
The clinical trial involved a total of 11 patients in California and Texas.
Bonilla hopes this implant could one day replace existing treatments that involve removing cartilage from the ribs or using a substance called porous polyethylene.
He explained that the initial solution was a laborious procedure, with the implant using porous polyethylene less flexible than the one tested today.
According to the company, about 1,500 babies suffer from microtia each year in the United States. These children can live normally if they don’t have health problems, but some don’t handle people’s appearances well.
Factors that may increase the risk of microtia include maternal diabetes and a maternal diet low in carbohydrates and folic acid.
3D-printed implants can also be used in other cartilage-related conditions, such as deficiencies and injuries to the nose, breast reconstructions or meniscus damage in the knees.
source: Noticias
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