Medical 3D technology: From bench to bedside

Technology has been growing exponentially since the first introduction of the planar silicon transistor in 1959. These technologies have led to a rapid change in how we perceive our world. Now, computers, the internet, smartphones, software applications, videoconferencing, and social media affect us all during our daily routine. Also in the hospital technology is becoming increasingly important. The medical technological development that this thesis focuses on is the introduction of the third dimension (3D) in the medical field and how this ultimately led to medical 3D printing and the refinement of 3D diagnostics. The emphasis in this thesis is on the requirements for translating these new techniques from the lab, via animal models, to the treatment of patients.

Part 1 of this thesis examines what 3D technology can mean for healthcare. Which patients need a tailor-made approach? In part 2, proposals are made for improvements enabled by 3D technology, and these are then examined in a laboratory setting. In part 3, animals suffering from hip dysplasia, skull tumors, and incurable bone fractures are all treated with the support of 3D technology. Because successes have been achieved in parts 2 and 3, enough confidence has been built up to also apply these techniques in the human clinic. Thus, this thesis concludes with the first applications of patient-specific implants to stabilize spines and to create highly accurate drill guides that help the physician increase surgical success. All this research ultimately led to the establishment of the 3D lab within the UMCU.