The interlace deposition method of bone equivalent material extrusion 3D printing for imaging in radiotherapy

Rance Tino; Adam Yeo; Milan Brandt; Martin Leary; Tomas Kron

Materials & Design (Feb 2021)

The interlace deposition method of bone equivalent material extrusion 3D printing for imaging in radiotherapy

Rance Tino,
Adam Yeo,
Milan Brandt,
Martin Leary,
Tomas Kron

Affiliations

Rance Tino: RMIT Centre for Additive Manufacturing, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Physical Sciences Department and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Adam Yeo: School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Physical Sciences Department and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Milan Brandt: RMIT Centre for Additive Manufacturing, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Martin Leary: RMIT Centre for Additive Manufacturing, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Tomas Kron: ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Physical Sciences Department and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Corresponding author at: ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 199
p. 109439

Abstract

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Existing material extrusion 3D printing methods of bone-equivalent phantoms for Computed Tomography (CT) imaging in Radiotherapy is limited by the geometrical inaccuracies and the achievable density ranges. The interlace deposition method proposed in this research facilitates the production of densities within the range of polylactic-acid (PLA) and iron-reinforced PLA (Fe-PLA) taking advantage the dual-extrusion printing in an interlacing pattern with variable layer thickness to fine-tune mean Hounsfield Unit (HU) within a volume of interest. Results show an achieved HU from 63 to 4130 using clinical CT protocols; this result is consistent for all specimen orientations. The proposed method enables the emulation of bone-like HU; as is demonstrated by the manufacture of a patient-specific femur phantom with a mean HU of 173±62 for red bone marrow, 400±64 for cancellous, 1102±182 for cortical, and 56±30 HU for soft tissues. This research demonstrates an inexpensive and clinically-ready approach to constructing bone-equivalent phantoms for imaging and may allow for personalised dosimetry for treatment planning in Radiotherapy.

Published in Materials & Design

ISSN: 0264-1275 (Print); 1873-4197 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-and-design

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