Development and Evaluation of a 3D Printed Knee Model for Simulating Partial Meniscus Resection

Abstract

A novel knee model has been developed to give medical engineering students hands-on experience with medical devices at an early stage in their studies. Derived from radiological data and fabricated using stereolithography-based 3D printing, the model can be used to simulate partial meniscus resection with real endoscopic instruments. It allows the simulation of the essential steps of the procedure and also illustrates the fundamental problem of coordinating the instruments with only an indirect view of the surgical field. The knee model was systematically evaluated in a workshop with ten test subjects from the Bachelor’s degree programmes in Medical Engineering and Biomechanics and Engineering. The test subjects assigned a mean grade of 1.6 to the workshop, employing the German school grading system in which 1 represents the highest level of achievement and 6 the lowest.