For the patient in this case, recurring bouts of cancer prompted doctors to remove an area of his face that included his right eye, cheek bone, and upper jaw. This procedure left the patient with a severe deformity – one so rare that no conventional treatment for it existed and, therefore, had serious consequences for his quality of life. Fortunately, the patient was able to count on the team treating him, which included the talented Belgian anaplastologist Jan De Cubber, to come up with a solution that would change his life. In turn, the team was able to rely on clinical engineers at Materialise who digitally designed and 3D-printed replacement bone put into place thanks to magnetic implants. De Cubber subsequently created the silicone bone-anchored prosthetic model for the missing soft tissue. Materialise’s 3D clinical services allowed De Cubber to work more accurately and efficiently.
Materialise combines 3D medical image-based engineering and 3D printing expertise to make the world better and healthier. With products and services for patient-specific treatments, the company is revolutionizing the medical world. In the field of anaplastology, Materialise has worked closely with Jan De Cubber, an internationally recognized expert in prosthesiology. Continuously researching the chemistry of silicone elastomers, he has developed a plethora of innovative techniques and medical aids that are applied and used worldwide. As such, Materialise and prosthesiologists, such as De Cubber, develop state-of-the-art solutions to not only realize their objectives but also achieve truly stunning results.