This month Embodi3d Top Member is Antonia Pontiki. She´s a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at King's College in  London investigating the use of patient-specific 3D printing for thoracic surgery. Her research interests include chest wall reconstruction for cancer patients, 3D printing, biocompatible materials, thoracic prostheses, and surgical simulators.

So let's get to know her a little better!

1. What motivated you to work with 3D printing?

I am doing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and I have been working on 3D printing since my final year of my BEng degree. My supervisor offered me a project for my BEng final year thesis, which involved 3D printing for the production of patient specific implants. Since then, I became increasingly interested in the use of 3D printing in healthcare and how it can improve people's lives. I have been collaborating with a thoracic surgeon for the past 4 years, investigating the use of 3D printing in thoracic surgery. 

2. Which 3D model do consider is your best contribution so far and why?

From the models I have uploaded on this platform, the full human intestine looks like the one that has attracted the most attention and is the most "used". I believe this is because it is a quite intricate structure and hard to generate in such detail even using a scan. However, in terms of real life contribution, it would have to be the lung hilum. That is because that model is part of a project that will, hopefully, soon be clinically translated and have an impact in healthcare and medical education! 

Full Intestine 3D model 

3. How is 3D printing useful for your daily work?

As I mentioned above, 3D printing is my daily work. My PhD is probably around 70% printing and I spend my days researching and testing new materials and new techniques to produce medical implants using 3D printing. I also teach undergraduate students 3D printing and its applications in healthcare, and I assist other researchers in our department with 3D printing parts required for their work.

Model of a human, male, adult thorax

4. What do you recommend to whom is starting in the 3D medical printing world?

In the past few years, 3D printing technologies are rapidly advancing to the point that it's hard to keep up and always be up to date with all the new research. The possibilities are endless with 3D printing, and especially in healthcare I believe that we can make a big difference, and have an impact on society by using 3D printing to the maximum of its abilities to improve patient care and quality of life, and also help with the education and skills of clinicians.

Best wishes,

Antonia

Three-Dimensional Printing for ChestWall Reconstruction in Thoracic Surgery: Building on Experience

You can check her publications here:

1. Smelt J, Pontiki A, Jahangiri M, Rhode K, Nair A, Bille A. Three-Dimensional Printing for Chest Wall Reconstruction in Thoracic Surgery: Building on Experience. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Jun 1;68:352-6.

2. Arar Y, Reddy SR, Kim H, Dimas VV, Zellers TM, Abou Zahr R, Vamsee R, Greer JS, Tandon A, Pontiki A, Dillenbeck J. 3D advanced imaging overlay with rapid registration in CHD to reduce radiation and assist cardiac catheterisation interventions. Cardiology in the Young. 2020 May;30(5):656-62.

3. Mustaev M, Bille A, Hasan M, Garg S, Pontiki AA, Darwish O, Lucchese G. Simulation and Measurement of Aerosolisation in Different Chest Drainage Systems. InSeminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2020 Nov 7. WB Saunders.

4. Emore M, Pontiki A, Rhode K. Surgical repair of the orbital floor using patient-specific 3D printing. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2020 Dec 1;58(10):e182-3.

Angel Sosa

A Radiologist who´s passionate about AI and imaging in any form. From x rays, ultrasound to CT, MR and 3d printing. Likes photography, music, and video games.