Key capabilities

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Rapid prototyping

• 3D printing of bone and joint implants, cutting and drilling guides

• 3D printing of ceramics by direct ink writing

• 3D printing multiscale porous bioceramics for bone scaffolds

• 3D printing in titanium and other medical grade metals

• 3D bioprinting and biofabrication with a range of biocompatible polymers and cells

• Quality systems analyses for medical implants design and 3D printing

 

Materials

• Technologies for optimising implant materials and manufacturing for maximum patient safety and function

• Design, production and testing of biomaterial scaffolds, devices and tissue constructs

• Computational alloy design

• Microstructure imaging and modelling

• Material characterisation

• Nanotechnology and microfabrication

• Development and characterisation of antimicrobial materials and their mechanisms of action

• Physical, chemical and biological characterisation of tissues, biomaterials and their interactions

• Stem cell culture and bioreactors

 

In vitro

• Mechanical testing of implants, including wear and fatigue

• In vitro biomechanical testing using cadaveric models and testing instrumentation;

• Surgical training and teaching using human anatomical tissue

• Mechanical testing of biological materials across scales, from single cell, to tissue and organ

• Robotic testing of cadaveric implant surgeries

 

In silico

• Multiscale multi-physics personalised neuromusculoskeletal biomechanical analyses

• Virtual anatomical model prototyping

• Computational modelling and simulation for implant/instrument design, surgical planning, pre-clinical testing, virtual clinical trials and clinical decision support;

 

In vivo

• 3D human motion measurement and analysis, including video motion analysis, wearables and biplane X-ray fluoroscopy.

• CT and MRI scanning

 

Equipment at Austin Health 

• Ultimaker S5 dual extrusion FDM printer 

• Prusa i3Mk3 FDM printer 

• Slicer3D segmentation software and experience 

 

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Facilities

 

Rapid prototyping

• Envisiontec 3D Bioplotter

• Renishaw AM200, AM400 (SLM based metal 3D printer)

• EOS – P110 Formiga (Selective Laser Sintering plastic 3D printer)

• 3D Systems – Figure 4 Standalone (Stereolithography resin 3D printer)

• Markforged – Mark two (Continuous Fiber Reinforced filament 3D printer)

 

Manufacturing

• 5-axis wire cutter/EDM

• Mechanical workshop CNC milling, turning, waterjet cutting, welding

• Electronics workshop, prototype board design and fabrication and design for manufacture expertise.

• Finishing tools (bead blasting, heat treatments, linishing/grinding)

 

In vitro

• Hexagon absolute measuring arm (8525-7)

• FARO® QUANTUM FAROARM®: 8 Axis laser measuring arm and table

• Six degrees-of-freedom robotic testing machine for cadaveric surgeries

 

Imaging

• MicroCT scanner

• 6T MRI

• Clinical CT

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Clinical

   Austin Health 

• Medical imaging and clinical data systems for research and development via Centre for Digital Transformation of Health

• Anatomical segmentation and modelling from clinical CT and MRI imaging

• Development, construction and assessment of surgical guides, planning and teaching models

• Clinical trials capacity for medical innovation and development

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Human motion and biomechanics analysis

• Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) with instrumented motion platform and immersive virtual-reality environment complementing

• Overground gait analysis laboratory with video motion analysis, instrumented force platforms and stairs

• Video motion analysis, electromyography (EMG), ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG), functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS), inertial measurement units (IMUs), Biodex dynamometers, ambulatory VR/XR systems

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