Malaysia’s SIRIM receives grant for customised titanium fracture fixation plate implants
October 11, 2024
The Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) Berhad has been awarded a grant from The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia to further study a recently developed titanium implant made via Additive Manufacturing.
Developed by team of orthopaedic surgeons, materials scientists, and specialists in precision manufacturing from SIRIM Bhd and the Department of Orthopaedic, Traumatology, and Rehabilitation at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, the has bespoke fracture fixation plate is now undergoing pre-clinical studies and biocompatibility tests.
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Animal implantation studies of additively manufactured Ti6Al4V demonstrates its potential as a viable material for orthopaedic implants. In these studies, the implants showed excellent biocompatibility, successful osseointegration, and increasing mechanical stability over time. Malaysian officials have decided that further studies, including long-term evaluations and clinical trials, are warranted to confirm these findings and facilitate clinical translation.
“The particular advantage of medical implants is that patient-specific, tailored implants offer greater comfort and speedier recovery,” stated Dr Mohammed Afian Omar, the project’s director and Principal Researcher at SIRIM Bhd. “A net-shaped product can be made using the Additive Manufacturing process. It ultimately leads to shorter surgical times due to a particular implant and lower total expenses by modifying the method. Each implant is designed, created, and shipped to the surgeon just before the procedure using just-in-time manufacturing and delivery, removing the need for hospitals to keep a large number of implants in stock.”
The cost of the additively manufactured fracture fixation plates to be studied by the SIRIM Berhad could be decreased by 40-50% in comparison to imported ones. Due to the expense of importing replacement prostheses, Dr Omar stressed the importance of establishing domestic production of bespoke implants.
The industrial research and technology company SIRIM Bhd is owned entirely by the Minister of Finance Incorporated in Malaysia. SIRIM functions as an engine for research and technology development and it has more than forty years of experience.
