Rapid Prototyping for Custom Made Cranioplasty Plates

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Rapid Production of Custom-Made Cranioplasty Plates Using 3D Printing Technology

  • IRAS ID

    134930

  • Contact name

    Peter J Hutchinson

  • Contact email

    pjah2@cam.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge

  • Research summary

    Head injury and stroke patients sometimes require part of the bone of the skull to be removed as part of their treatment, in order to reduce the pressure inside the skull. This bone is later replaced with an artificial material (called a cranioplasty) in order to provide protection for the brain and to provide a good cosmetic appearance. This study will explore the use of 3D printing to allow cranioplasties to be made quickly and accurately from the patients’ CT scans. This will allow patients to have their cranioplasty put in more quickly and with a shape that perfectly matches their skull.

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/EE/0430

  • Date of REC Opinion

    2 Jan 2014

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion