Medical Additive Manufacturing
The medical sector, which encompasses dental, is today one of the largest adopters of 3D printing technologies for the production of consumer-targeted items, including prosthetics, implants, dental replacements and physical models.
Though the focus of much media coverage, the use of 3D printing technologies extends well beyond 3D printed implants. Surgical guides and pre-surgical models are widespread, so much so that they can, in a way, be compared to the broad adoption of AM for prototyping and tooling in the industrial manufacturing arena. Leading AM hardware manufacturers, such as 3D Systems, EnvisionTEC, EOS and SLM Solutions, along with service providers like Materialise, are investing heavily to develop both medical and dental AM applications.
While the benefits of AM technologies for personalized medicine and more efficient surgical practices are well documented, several hurdles still exist that are limiting a more widespread adoption of these key technologies in hospitals and medical practices. Several of these hurdles are inherent to AM technologies and related material availability, however, the biggest challenges result from a general lack of awareness and skepticism, resulting in a slow pace of adoption.
Today, significant strides are being taken—mainly in the private segment—toward the development of advanced polymers, metals and ceramics fit for implantation in humans. The private dental segment is going through a full-size boom in the adoption of AM technologies and processes. With this month’s Industry Focus we hone in on the latest advancements and take a look at the upcoming opportunities for medical and dental AM.
Latest Medical and Dental AM news:
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Stratasys has introduced a new 3D printer model, the J750 Digital Anatomy system, targeted squarely at the medical industry. The 3D printer leverages the company’s existing multi-material PolyJet 3D printing technology to produce 3D printed anatomical models that are ultra-realistic in terms of feel, responsiveness and biomechanics. The 3D printer…
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Kuunda3D has been selected as the newly appointed distributor for Copper3D‘s antibaterial filament portfolio on African markets. Through their partner network and carefully established African network, Kuunda3D expects to make Copper3D products more accessible to more customers and more countries than ever before. “When I first learned about the Copper3D filament…
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Plenum, a Brazil-based biomedical company, recently adopted two Lithoz CeraFab 7500 3D printers to support the production of next-gen bone implants. The purchase and installation marks an exciting step into Brazil’s AM industry for Lithoz, an Austrian specialist in high performance ceramic 3D printing. Within the South American nation, Plenum…
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DePuy Synthes, a medical device company owned by Johnson & Johnson, has expanded its range of 3D printed interbody implants for treating degenerative spine disease with the release of the CONDUIT Interbody Platform with EIT Cellular Titanium Technology. The new platform, announced at the 34th Annual North American Spine Society…
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PrinterPrezz, a California company specializing in combining metal 3D printing, nanotechnologies and surgical expertise to design and manufacture next-generation medical devices, revealed that work is currently ongoing on new spinal interbody fusion devices in collaboration with Osseus Fusion Systems, a Dallas-based medical device company focused on spine products. The two…
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3D Systems has received additional 510(k) clearance for its D2P (DICOM-to-PRINT) software for the medical industry. The software, which enables clinicians to easily 3D print patient-specific anatomical models, works in tandem with 3D Systems’ 3D printers to create models for a range of medical areas, including cardiovascular, craniofacial, gastrointestinal, genitourinary,…
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Veering from its recent cycling-related announcements, 3D printing company Carbon is launching a new premium digitally printable denture workflow and material system in partnership with Dentsply Sirona, a leading manufacturer of professional dental products. The new workflow and material system significantly improve the process of 3D printing dental prostheses as…
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Evonik Venture Capital, the VC arm of German chemicals company Evonik, has announced an investment in Meditool, a Chinese startup specializing in PEEK 3D printed implants for neuro and spinal surgery. Evonik is the lead investor in a “high single-digit million-euro” fundraising round for the Shanghai-based medtech startup. Meditool’s 3D…
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Mankind is accelerating its exploration of space and the universe at an increasingly rapid pace. Manned habitations such as the International Space Station (ISS) have been in existence for over 20 years. We are on the cusp of starting to launch deep space exploration missions, but there are many challenges…
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UK-based company axial3D is taking another big step in its mission to help the healthcare sector adopt 3D printing technologies. Working with the Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgeons at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, axial3D will provide a new in-house 3D printing facility to serve Newcastle Hospitals in England. The point-of-care…
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