Joint Replacements Step Up Their Game
By Emma Poitras
Recently, scientist and researcher Rob Pilliar and a team of scientists discovered something huge, if not life changing in the medical field for many lives. The discovery was biomaterial joint replacements. This recent improvement on a well known, regular procedure could mean improved mobility for many people affected by joint problems.
Pilliar has been researching and working towards a more innovative option for joint surgeries for about 20 years, he is a retired professor from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry and Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering. While he still respects and understands the importance of the discovery of metallic, plastic, and ceramic implants, he wants to improve upon the discovery and make it a surgery that will be specific to every person. Pilliar’s main goal was to create a joint replacement that would do the same things as previous discoveries which included more comfort and mobility, except this discovery will hopefully last longer and be more specific to each patient.
Although the most common joint replacement surgery has been wildly successful and important to the medical field and community there are several downfalls that Rob Pilliar has been striving to improve upon. Specifically with the “traditional” hip surgery the joint replacement can often loosen and eventually fail. Pilliar stated, “Let’s not downplay it: metallic (implants) are one of the most successful surgeries around,” he said. “But they are not custom-sized for different people.” Biomaterial joint replacements are going to become a more reliable and long term option for people needing to replace joints such as hips, elbows, or knees.
Pilliar and Dr. Rita Kandel worked together to integrate 3D printing and Pilliar’s research. Using two minerals found in human bone (calcium and polyphosphate), a “template” for new bone formation will be created specific to each person. Biomaterial is a material that will work with tissue and body fluids to replace, treat, or improve parts of the human body. “Over time, the calcium polyphosphate is absorbed within the body while the patient’s own tissues and cells retain the artificial implant’s shape.” Dr. Rita Kandel was working with Pilliar on the use of 3D printing for more personalized joint replacements. Dr. Kandel explains, “Now, with 3D printing, we can tailor precisely the implant to the missing structure in a patient’s body.”
Essentially, using 3D printing a damaged joint could be replaced by a new joint made up of your body's tissue. With these new technological advancements this procedure will provide improved mobility, and more personalized joint replacements. With these advancements a few questions may arise, such as: could these improvements be considered an unfair advantage in professional sports? What does this mean for the people that already have had surgeries on their joints, could they still be eligible for this improvement? How? How much will this cost? Such questions are yet to be answered because of how new the discovery is. Now with today's technology being so advanced it brings people to wonder, what could be next? What new medical discoveries could our world be seeing in ten years? With the discovery of biomaterial joints perhaps this could this move onto greater things like dental replacements. The medical world is ever changing and using unexpected resources to improve and change lives on a daily basis. Seeing how important and influential this procedure will become in the coming years it is exciting to watch where the medical field could bring our world in the future.
By Emma Poitras
Recently, scientist and researcher Rob Pilliar and a team of scientists discovered something huge, if not life changing in the medical field for many lives. The discovery was biomaterial joint replacements. This recent improvement on a well known, regular procedure could mean improved mobility for many people affected by joint problems.
Pilliar has been researching and working towards a more innovative option for joint surgeries for about 20 years, he is a retired professor from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry and Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering. While he still respects and understands the importance of the discovery of metallic, plastic, and ceramic implants, he wants to improve upon the discovery and make it a surgery that will be specific to every person. Pilliar’s main goal was to create a joint replacement that would do the same things as previous discoveries which included more comfort and mobility, except this discovery will hopefully last longer and be more specific to each patient.
Although the most common joint replacement surgery has been wildly successful and important to the medical field and community there are several downfalls that Rob Pilliar has been striving to improve upon. Specifically with the “traditional” hip surgery the joint replacement can often loosen and eventually fail. Pilliar stated, “Let’s not downplay it: metallic (implants) are one of the most successful surgeries around,” he said. “But they are not custom-sized for different people.” Biomaterial joint replacements are going to become a more reliable and long term option for people needing to replace joints such as hips, elbows, or knees.
Pilliar and Dr. Rita Kandel worked together to integrate 3D printing and Pilliar’s research. Using two minerals found in human bone (calcium and polyphosphate), a “template” for new bone formation will be created specific to each person. Biomaterial is a material that will work with tissue and body fluids to replace, treat, or improve parts of the human body. “Over time, the calcium polyphosphate is absorbed within the body while the patient’s own tissues and cells retain the artificial implant’s shape.” Dr. Rita Kandel was working with Pilliar on the use of 3D printing for more personalized joint replacements. Dr. Kandel explains, “Now, with 3D printing, we can tailor precisely the implant to the missing structure in a patient’s body.”
Essentially, using 3D printing a damaged joint could be replaced by a new joint made up of your body's tissue. With these new technological advancements this procedure will provide improved mobility, and more personalized joint replacements. With these advancements a few questions may arise, such as: could these improvements be considered an unfair advantage in professional sports? What does this mean for the people that already have had surgeries on their joints, could they still be eligible for this improvement? How? How much will this cost? Such questions are yet to be answered because of how new the discovery is. Now with today's technology being so advanced it brings people to wonder, what could be next? What new medical discoveries could our world be seeing in ten years? With the discovery of biomaterial joints perhaps this could this move onto greater things like dental replacements. The medical world is ever changing and using unexpected resources to improve and change lives on a daily basis. Seeing how important and influential this procedure will become in the coming years it is exciting to watch where the medical field could bring our world in the future.