Michigan Medicine and Materialise have launched a landmark clinical trial to evaluate innovative 3D-printed bioresorbable devices for treating infants with severe tracheobronchomalacia, a rare and potentially fatal airway condition. The trial represents a critical advancement toward securing full FDA approval for this life-saving technology.
Understanding the Medical Need
Tracheobronchomalacia occurs when the cartilage in the trachea or mainstem bronchi develops abnormally, causing the airway to collapse during breathing. While most cases are mild and resolve by age three, severe cases can be life-threatening, often requiring ventilator support for survival.
"We needed a revolutionary innovation to give these babies a chance to survive," explains Dr. Glenn Green, otolaryngologist at U-M Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. The lack of effective treatment options for severe cases drove the development of this innovative approach.
Revolutionary Device Design
The groundbreaking device consists of a biodegradable scaffolding that is customized for each patient using 3D printing technology. Surgeons attach the splint to the outer side of the affected airway, preventing collapse while allowing natural growth. Notably, it is the first 3D-printed implant specifically designed for pediatric use that grows with the patient and eventually dissolves safely in the body.
Clinical Trial Details
Dr. Richard Ohye, pediatric heart surgeon and trial principal investigator at U-M Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, explains, "We have established a process that allows us to offer the customized airway splint as a last resort treatment for certain children with no other options, but we need more research to make it available on a wider scale."
The eight-year study aims to enroll 35 infants across five children's hospitals nationwide. Materialise, operating from their Ann Arbor manufacturing facility, will produce all devices for the trial. The company brings over three decades of experience in medical 3D printing, currently producing 280,000 personalized medical devices annually, including 160,000 for the U.S. market.
Track Record of Success
The technology's journey began in 2012 with its first successful implementation in a three-month-old infant with severe tracheobronchomalacia, documented in the New England Journal of Medicine. Since then, the device has been used in more than 40 children at Mott under FDA emergency and compassionate use approvals.
Manufacturing Innovation
"The advent of technologies such as 3D printing and advanced visualization techniques has transformed patient-specific care," notes Colleen Wivell, Director of Clinical Engineering at Materialise. "Surgeons increasingly adopt 3D printing as part of their surgical workflow to bring personalized care to patients, improving healthcare and reducing costs overall."
