Scientists have 3D-printed accurate, custom-designed prosthetic replacements for damaged parts of the middle ear, paving the way for improved surgical treatments for hearing impairment. The technique has the potential to improve a surgical procedure that often fails because of incorrectly sized prosthetic implants, researchers said. Conductive hearing loss can be treated through surgical reconstruction using prostheses made from stainless steel struts and ceramic cups.
The surgery, which generally involves tailoring a prosthesis for each patient in the operating room, is plagued by high failure rates. "The ossicles are very small structures, and one reason the surgery has a high failure rate is thought to be due to incorrect sizing of the prostheses," said an assistant professor at the University of Maryland in the US. "If you could custom-design a prosthesis with a more exact fit, then…
