An American medical team announced on Thursday (2) that it had implanted for the first time a human ear created from the patient’s cells with a 3D printer, a procedure that could help people suffering from a rare birth defect.
The operation was carried out as part of a clinical trial — which includes 11 patients in California and Texas — aimed at evaluating the safety and effectiveness of this type of implant for those affected by microtia, a condition in which the outer ear does not develop properly.
AuriNovo, the name of the implant, was developed by the company 3DBio Therapeutics, and the surgery was performed by Arturo Bonilla, founder of an institute specializing in the treatment of this malformation, in San Antonio, Texas.
“As a physician who has treated thousands of children affected by microtia, I am excited about this technology and what it could mean for patients and their families,” said the surgeon, quoted in a company statement.
The procedure is performed with cartilage cells from the individual’s own ear. They are then grown to obtain a sufficient amount and mixed with a collagen hydrogel. This mixture is used to print the implant.
The implant is surrounded by a printed and biodegradable covering, which is absorbed by the patient’s body over time.
The transplanted ear must develop the look and feel of a natural ear, including its elasticity.
The clinical trial covers a total of 11 patients in California and Texas.
Bonilla hopes the implant could one day replace existing treatments, which involve extracting cartilage from the ribs or using a substance called porous polyethylene.
The first solution is a cumbersome procedure, while the implant that uses porous polyethylene is less flexible than the one tested today, he explained.
About 1,500 babies suffer from microtia each year in the United States, according to the company. If they don’t have health problems, these children can live normally, but some don’t handle people’s looks well.
Among the factors that can increase the risks of microtia are maternal diabetes and a maternal diet low in carbohydrates and folic acid.
3D-printed implants could also be used in other cartilage-related conditions, such as deficiencies and injuries to the nose, breast reconstructions, or damage to the menisci in the knees.
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