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<p>The knee menisci are essential for maintaining joint stability and load distribution, with circumferential collagen fibres playing a critical biomechanical role. Degenerative or traumatic injuries to the meniscus can require implants to restore function. This study aimed to develop a 3D-printable meniscus implant that could be virtually tested prior to production. A novel staining and preparation protocol using Lugol’s solution and freeze-drying was applied to six intact human menisci, enabling high-resolution micro-CT imaging. Quantitative analysis revealed that approximately 48% of the meniscal volume consists of circumferential fibres. Based on this, a two-volumetric printable stereolithography (STL) model was created, with an inner volume representing 48% of the total structure. A custom Python script was developed to translate the G-code from this model into a two-volumetric finite element (FE) model -overcoming the limitations of conventional software. The two-volumetric implant was then evaluated in a virtual knee joint using thermoplastic polyurethane materials with elastic moduli of 54&#xa0;MPa and 205&#xa0;MPa. The results confirmed the feasibility of simulating and optimizing patient-specific meniscal implants prior to fabrication.</p>

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Freeze drying and Lugol staining of human menisci reveal circumferential fibre volumes to guide meniscus implant design and virtual simulation

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月2日

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  • Anna-Christina Moser,
  • Jennifer Fritz,
  • Alexander Otahal,
  • Andreas Kesselring,
  • Florian Schüssler,
  • Patrick Eisner,
  • Karl Heinrich Schneider,
  • Andreas Herbert Teuschl,
  • Lukas Felix Reissig,
  • Lydia Zopf,
  • Stefan Nehrer

摘要

The knee menisci are essential for maintaining joint stability and load distribution, with circumferential collagen fibres playing a critical biomechanical role. Degenerative or traumatic injuries to the meniscus can require implants to restore function. This study aimed to develop a 3D-printable meniscus implant that could be virtually tested prior to production. A novel staining and preparation protocol using Lugol’s solution and freeze-drying was applied to six intact human menisci, enabling high-resolution micro-CT imaging. Quantitative analysis revealed that approximately 48% of the meniscal volume consists of circumferential fibres. Based on this, a two-volumetric printable stereolithography (STL) model was created, with an inner volume representing 48% of the total structure. A custom Python script was developed to translate the G-code from this model into a two-volumetric finite element (FE) model -overcoming the limitations of conventional software. The two-volumetric implant was then evaluated in a virtual knee joint using thermoplastic polyurethane materials with elastic moduli of 54 MPa and 205 MPa. The results confirmed the feasibility of simulating and optimizing patient-specific meniscal implants prior to fabrication.