Supervisor: Dr. Marie-Luise Wille

Co-Supervisors: Prof. Prasad Yarlagadda, Dr. Beat Schmutz, A/Prof. Paige Little 

Thesis title:  Design and fabrication of multi structural scaffolds for the treatment of critical-sized bone defects 

Thesis Summary: Scaffold-guided bone tissue regeneration is a novel treatment for critical sized bone defects. Based on CT images of the patient a scaffold that matches the patient’s defect size and shape (patient-specific) is designed, 3D printed by a medically certified manufacturer and is implanted by the surgeon. Once implanted, bone is regenerated over time while the scaffold is gradually resorbed by the body. A scaffold design needs to patient-specific, 3D printable and compliment the surgical strategy devised by the surgeons, which is a significant design challenge.

Currently the design stage involves highly manual and indirect processes with multiple design revisions. The aim of this research is to establish a streamlined and standard design workflow to fulfil the above design requirements and support the clinical translation of this treatment method.