Endoscopic Surgical Robotic Additive Manufacturing Tissue Engineering (AM TE) Devices – a Three Dimensional Window into the Future

Desmond M D’Souza, MD¹, Peter J Kneuertz, MD¹, Robert E Merritt, MD¹, Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD¹, Andre Simeunovic², David Hoelzle². ¹Division of Thoracic Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital, ²The Ohio State University, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Objective: 1. To combine a 3D bioprinting system with robotic surgery platforms to produce human-scale tissue constructs with structural integrity.

2. Perform a needs analysis survey to better understand the needs of robotic surgeons in intracorporeal 3D bioprinting and drug delivery.

Description of Technology / Concept: Additive manufacturing, otherwise known as three-dimensional (3D) printing offers the potential to fabricate organized tissue constructs to repair or replace damaged or diseased tissues and organs.¹ Additive manufacturing Tissue Engineering (AM TE) has been demonstrated for a variety of tissues such as cartilage, bones and muscle. Incorporating 3D printing (AM TE) with minimally invasive robotic surgical platforms provides immense opportunity in the surgical arena. 

Traditional AM TE consists of printing tissue constructs ex vivo followed by in vivo evaluation for research or clinical use. Using existing AM TE techniques and robotic integration we seek to combine the minimally invasive surgical robotic approach with 3D printing to create a device that prints intracorporeally. Biomaterial deposition will occur through a long, slender nozzle in the body (Fig 1).  This would allow for printing customized, synthetic tissues directly into surgical and/or defect sites. This process will make tissue engineering a minimally invasive procedure.

Methodology / Preliminary Results: To assess the need for 3D intracorporeal printing and drug delivery we developed a ‘needs analysis’ survey that was administered to all the robotic surgeons at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Data is currently being analyzed but preliminary results suggest enthusiasm and potential application in the general surgery and thoracic surgical specialties.

Future direction / Conclusions: Incorporating 3D bioprinting and minimally invasive robotic surgery has immense potential and surgical applications. Although the technology is in its infancy continued advancements in resolution, speed and compatibility with biologically relevant materials will provide new indications for utilization.

References:

1.      Murphy SV, Atala A. 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs. Nat Biotechnol. 2014 Aug;32(8):773-85. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2958. PubMed PMID: 25093879.

---

Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.

Abstract ID: 91257

Program Number: ETP850

Presentation Session: Emerging Technology iPoster Session (Non CME)

Presentation Type: Poster

---

sages_adbutler_leaderboard

---