Showcase of mechatronic methodology for the design and manufacturing of implantable medical devices

Abstract

Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary area that enables the integration of mechanical, electronic and control theory for the design of cutting-edge products or advanced manufacturing systems. For decades, it has been combined with other areas, such as medicine for the design and manufacture of implants, thanks to the development of rapid prototyping technologies (e. g., 3D printing) and conventional manufacturing methods. In order to contribute to the development of novel medical therapies while pushing the boundaries of personalized implant manufacturing, this thesis showcases the approach of the mechatronic V-model as design methodology to support the implantable device development cycle. The development and fabrication methods for three implantable products was addressed: (1) fabrication of scaffolds for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering (TE) applications manufactured by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), (2) fabrication of thin, personalized cell-thick membranes using the novel Melt Electrowriting (MEW) technique, and (3) the robotic Point-of-Care Manufacturing (POCM) of fixation hardware for craniomaxillofacial (CMF) procedures. The developed technology for each implant introduced specific research questions, challenges, and contributions for each manufacturing method (e. g., FDM, MEW and POCM). In addition, the contributions converged in the publication of high-impact research papers, the presentation of findings at international and relevant conferences for medical devices, the disclosure of intellectual property and international collaboration. Despite the promising results obtained so far, we continue working on technological maturation and regulatory validation in order to translate our innovations into the medical practice.