FAM-3D

• Project number: K3-F-807/002-2018
• Project Management: : Nikolaus Dellantoni, ACMIT - Austrian Center for Medical Innovation and Technology
• Project partner(s): Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences / Division of Biomechanics, Lower Austrian Provincial Health Agency (NÖ LGA) / Central X-ray Institute for Diagnostics, Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
• Project duration: 45 months from 1 April 2019

Background

In the development of new medical devices and in medical education as well as in the preparation of complex interventions, cadaveric tests are unavoidable. This is associated with ethical concerns, legal restrictions and high organisational costs, test results are not reproducible and not all pathologies are available. Similar limitations are also present in animal testing.
Artificial anatomical models could largely replace cadaver tests if they are as equivalent as possible to "real" human specimens in terms of anatomical structure, mechanical properties and other application-specific functionalities. In addition, such models could be derived directly from medical image data (e.g. CT, MRT) and each patient-specific pathology could be produced as an artificial anatomical model. In order to achieve this, competences in material technology, anatomy, medical technology and manufacturing processes - in particular additive manufacturing processes (3D printing) - must be bundled and the technological foundations must be researched on the basis of the development of initial samples.
The necessary competences are available in the Lower Austrian technopoles of Wiener Neustadt and Krems and are complemented by medical research in the Lower Austrian university hospitals. This challenging but rewarding vision is achievable through a merger of the Lower Austrian research institutions involved in this field.
In contrast to the anatomical models currently available on the market, the anatomical models developed in this research project will be significantly closer to reality in terms of function, haptics, mechanics, texture and appearance, will be cheaper to produce and will make it possible to actually replace "body donations" for certain applications.
In the course of this research project, 6 new high-quality research and training positions for doctoral and diploma students will be created in Lower Austria. The vision for the future also includes the later foundation of a Lower Austrian company for the development, production and worldwide marketing of realistic artificial anatomical models. This will simplify the development process in medical technology, improve medical training and significantly reduce the risk of complex interventions.