“The university’s biomechanical research laboratory is internationally recognised and can showcase results on which we can build also in the future. Therefore, there will be several hundred square metres of space given to the laboratory in the soon-to-be-built Industrial Park Innovation Center,” announced Zoltán Bács, chancellor, on 16 November in Kenézy Villa on campus.
Research in the field of biomechanics was started in 1993 by the Department of Orthopaedics and the former Ybl Miklós College of Technology, at the initiative of Zoltán Csernátony, head of the department.
“The laboratory is the flagship and pride of the Faculty of Medicine in Debrecen, and it is clearly a unique institution in Hungary. It has a determining role in graduate and postgraduate education, and the developments over the past quarter of a century have enabled it to incorporate such modern technologies that serve the purposes of not only education, but also healthcare services,” said László Mátyus, dean of the Faculty of General Medicine, at the event held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the research centre.
The devices recently added to the laboratory, thanks to a successful grant application, represent state-of-the-art technology: a modern, movement analysing system, several new 3D printers and a 3D scanner, which can scan the whole body of a standing person in just a few seconds to create a true image. The biggest development, however, is Hungary’s first, medical-purpose, metal 3D-printer, which was commissioned a few days ago.
“Thanks to this new device, the high-tech Biomechanical Laboratory of the University of Debrecen has become one of the only 5 service providers in Europe capable of producing individually designed and 3D-printable titanium bone prosthetics,” Zoltán Csernátony, founder of the laboratory, told hirek.unideb.hu.
According to the Director of the Department of Orthopaedics, this is a new direction in orthopaedic surgery, which is a novelty also on a global scale.
“These osseointegrated prostheses can improve quality of life to such a great extent that we can call it revolutionary in comparison with the possibilities 20-30 years ago. The implants can be used for developmental disorders, the restoration of post-accident conditions and for the supplementing of excessive bone deficiencies,” the professor listed.
Biomechanical research in Debrecen has a key role in establishing this innovative specialisation, he added. The laboratory, as a service provider, can become fully self-sustaining, thanks to external surgical and industrial orders for fabrication and material testing services.
At a meeting of nationwide significance, held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary and with the participation of a number of foreign guests, the director of the department recounted the history of the laboratory, followed by papers given by Hungarian and international presenters. The symposium, part of which was also a visit to the laboratory, was also an occasion to celebrate the 90th birthday of János Rigó, professor emeritus of the Department of Orthopaedics.
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