3D-Printed Femurs May Enhance Biomechanical Studies

Credit: UT Southwestern

Robert Weinschenk, M.D., (left) Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern, was the study’s lead author and Richard Samade, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Biomedical Engineering, and Plastic Surgery at UTSW, was a co-author. They collaborated with mechanical engineers from UT Dallas on the research.

« 3D-Printed Femurs May Enhance Biomechanical Studies

Credit: UT Southwestern

The researchers constructed 3D-printed femurs using polylactic acid and tested them, comparing the results to the biomechanical response of human femurs. The top bone is a 3D-printed humerus (upper arm) that Dr. Weinschenk and colleagues printed for a previous study; the bottom bone is one of the 3D femurs created for this study. Each femur bone costs about $7 to produce.

« 3D-Printed Femurs May Enhance Biomechanical Studies

Credit: UT Southwestern

Dr. Weinschenk’s 3D printing lab in the Green Research Building features three 3D printers that the team is using to develop the femur samples.

« 3D-Printed Femurs May Enhance Biomechanical Studies

Expert Pitch

Expert Query

Expert Directory