Tibia
creating affordable, modular and sustainable furniture system which changes shape based the rooms size.
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced modelling
Medical Modelling
Simpleware
Project Description
This project explores the design of a patient-specific tibia bridge plate for the treatment of multifragmentary tibial fractures. In this type of injury, the tibia is typically fractured into multiple segments, requiring surgical fixation to restore alignment and stability. The proposed solution is a custom implant designed using CT scan data to generate an accurate 3D model of the patient’s bone.
The design focuses on a patient-specific approach to improve fit, reduce complications, and minimise long-term joint issues associated with standard off-the-shelf plates. Conventional tibia plates often use generic hole placement and require intraoperative bending to approximate the bone’s geometry, which can introduce additional stress and variability in outcomes. In contrast, a custom-designed bridge plate is modelled directly from the patient’s anatomy and secured using six surgical-grade screws for improved alignment and load distribution.
The modelling process involved reconstructing a tibia from medical imaging data and developing the plate geometry within CAD to match the bone’s surface and curvature. While the design reflects real clinical workflows, it was developed as a conceptual exercise and has not been used in a medical setting.
Developing and Prototyping
Final Protoype
I modelled both the fixation plate directly from the anatomy, designing a custom fit to improve alignment and load distribution compared to standard off-the-shelf plates in simple ware. The bone was SLS 3D printed and the plate was manufactured in metal to replicate clinical conditions.
Although documentation was restricted due to university and medical sensitivity, all components were successfully fabricated and assembled as a functional fit in a non environmental test.
