Rapid prototyping of ossicular replacement prostheses

Materials used in ossicular replacement prostheses must demonstrate appropriate biological compatibility, acoustic transmission, stability, and stiffness properties. Prostheses prepared using Teflon (R), titanium, Ceravital and other conventional materials have demonstrated several problems, including migration, perforation of the tympanic membrane, difficulty in shaping the prostheses, and reactivity with the surrounding tissues. We have used two-photon polymerization for rapid prototyping of Ormocer (R) middle-ear bone replacement prostheses. Ormocer (R) surfaces fabricated using two-photon polymerization exhibited acceptable cell viability and cell growth profiles. The Ormocer (R) prosthesis was able to be inserted and removed from the site of use in the frozen human head without fracture. Our results demonstrate that two-photon polymerization is able to create ossicular replacement prostheses and other medical devices with a larger range of sizes, shapes and materials than other microfabrication techniques. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.