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:
-
3D Bioprinting Solutions and the P. A. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Center conducted a unique experiment on implant in-situ bioprinting to replace skin defects. The experiment was carried out in-situ – that is, “on the spot” – on live rats during an operation in the laboratory of preclinical studies of…
Read More -
GE Healthcare and Formlabs have entered into a partnership to increase the accessibility of 3D printed, patient-specific anatomical models. In the medical sector, patient-specific models based on medical imaging data have multiple uses, from practitioner training to surgical preparation to patient communications. Through the collaboration, GE Healthcare and Formlabs will…
Read More -
Smart International, under license from Eastman Kodak Company, has announced it will be supporting e-NABLE Medellin’s effort in Colombia by providing 3D printing hardware, materials and technical support. e-NABLE Medellin, a Colombian branch of the global e-NABLE organization which aims to provide free prosthetic hands to those in need, will…
Read More -
Kumovis, a Munich-based developer of 3D printers founded in 2017 (which was a winner of the Formnext Start Up Challenge in 2018), will showcase its KUMOVIS R1 3D printer at this year’s Formnext conference. The machine is the “world’s first 3D printer with clean room integration” and can be used…
Read More -
A 3D printed bionic hand can be made to measure thanks to engineers at WMG, University of Warwick and a collaboration of other companies. The 3D printed IMPACT bionic hand incorporates muscle sensors to control an articulated thumb, enabling it to function similar to a human hand. It can be…
Read More -
Israeli ceramic 3D printing company XJet is bringing its innovative NanoParticle Jetting Technology (NPJ) to yet another customer: KU Leuven University in Belgium. The installation of the Carmel 1400 3D printer at the university marks the first time XJet’s technology has been adopted by a European academic institution. Fittingly, KU…
Read More -
Formlabs has today made a series of announcements, including the acquisition of its primary materials supplier, Spectra Group Photopolymers LLC, and the establishment of a new business wholly dedicated to the growing dental market: Formlabs Dental. Spectra acquisition In business for over 20 years and with extensive experience in photochemistry,…
Read More -
Anouk Wipprecht, one of the best-known tech-fashion designers making intensive use of 3D printing technologies, has worked with “bionic” singer Viktoria Modesta on the latest Rolls Royce Campaign. Anouk has collaborated with Viktoria on several projects in the past, transforming the singer’s prosthetic leg in a stylish augmentation. This time…
Read More -
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…
Read More -
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…
Read More
