News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
A flurry of dental 3D printing developments have been announced ahead of the start of America’s largest dental laboratory event, Lab Day 2022, tomorrow in Chicago.
Prellis Biologics Inc., a biotherapeutics company with human tissue engineering capabilities, has entered into a collaboration and license option agreement with Sanofi S.A., an innovative global healthcare company. The collaboration will focus on the discovery of antibodies with Prellis’ first-in-class external human immune system (EXIS), and leverages Prellis’ ability to engineer fully-human lymph node organoids (LNOs) and recreate immune responses in vitro to deliver antibodies with significant genetic diversity.
Carl Zeiss Meditec, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, and Precise Bio, a regenerative medicine company advancing the use of bio-printed tissues and organs, have entered into a partnership to develop and commercialize fabricated corneal tissue for transplants in patients that require endothelial keratoplasty and natural lenticule transplants for treating keratoconus and vision correction.
Triastek, Inc., a company specializing in 3D printing of pharmaceuticals, entered into a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, a leading global pharmaceutical company, to leverage the advantages of MED 3D printing technology to enable precisely targeted and programmed release of drugs in specific regions of the GI tract.
Biogenic Dental Corporation is a family-owned dental laboratory operating since 1906. Located in the heart of Central New York, it is a full-service lab that provides high-quality dental restorations to their customers.
A research team led by Boston University has used 3D printing technology to develop a miniature replica of a human heart – and it beats like the real thing.
Nexa3D, the maker of ultrafast 3D printers, expanded its dental 3D printing solutions, set to exhibit at the upcoming LMT Lab Day in Chicago, IL, marking the company’s commitment to the dental space. Nexa3D offers next-generation productive lab and clinic digital solutions with accurate and affordable dental portfolio resins and end-to-end workflow, featuring proven accuracy and reliability for higher productivity. The large-format NXD 200 3D printer, designed specifically for high-throughput dental 3D printing applications, utilizes Nexa3D’s patented LSPc technology.
Lithoz GmbH has recently successfully installed their first 3D printer, a CeraFab System S65 Medical, at the CADdent facilities in Germany. CADdent, the leading provider of additive manufacturing and CAD/CAM solutions in dental technology, is currently expanding its 3D printing operations and, with this new acquisition, will offer high-precision 3D-printed ceramic components and serve as a high-performance partner for applied research in the future.
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) entered into an agreement to acquire Kumovis, a Munich, Germany-based additive manufacturing solutions provider for personalized healthcare applications. Kumovis’ solutions are built upon their unique extrusion technology specifically developed for precision printing of medical-grade, high-performance polymers such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone).
Eplus3D, a provider of metal 3D printer solutions, together with BioSummer 3D, a provider of dental products and service solutions in France, signed a distribution agreement to help more dental laboratories and labs realize 3D digital transformation.
3D Systems has entered the radiation oncology market with FDA 510(k) clearance of VSP Bolus, a solution designed to deliver high-quality patient-specific radiotherapy treatment accessories. As the latest addition to the company’s VSP portfolio of personalized medical devices, VSP Bolus is the only solution on the market that offers a full design and production service based on the patient’s treatment plan. As a result, radiotherapy providers do not need specialized design software and expertise, allowing them to focus directly on patient treatment and care. 3D Systems’ deep experience in additive manufacturing of medical devices enables the company to deliver 3D printed, biocompatible patient-specific boluses that can improve therapy modulation as well as patient comfort.
Renowned robotic urologic oncology surgeon Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., was the first in the USA to test a new preoperative surgical rehearsal technology recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for all genitourinary conditions. The 3D printed kidney models, made by Lazarus 3D, provide an additional preparation tool for some surgical procedures.
Doctors in Dubai have successfully completed a series of surgeries on a young male patient to reform his facial deformities using 3D printed titanium implants.
Biotechnology firm United Therapeutics has showcased what it claims to be the “world’s most complex 3D printed object” in partnership with 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems at the recent LIFE ITSELF conference in San Diego.
Bertram Dental Lab (BDL), is an early pioneer in utilizing metal AM to produce Cobalt Chrome Removable Partial Dentures (RPDs) at scale. Since 2016, Bertram Dental Lab has had a long-standing partnership with SLM Solutions, after acquiring its first SLM280 Production Series. Since then, to enable the launch of its LazerTEK Print Service, BDL has installed four more printers. BDL’s mission is to provide its partners with the most consistently fitting, highest-quality wholesale parts. To achieve the level of quality BDL aims to provide to its customers, it relies on the repeatability and productivity of SLM Solutions technology to meet its marketplace’s demands and stringent industry standards.
SprintRay has released SprintRay Crown by BEGO – a 3D printing resin developed to help improve the quality, and accessibility, of customized restorative care in digital dentistry. The SprintRay Crown by BEGO hybrid material was developed through the collaboration of the two companies – SprintRay, a dental technology company building end-to-end 3D printing ecosystems, offering manufacturing solutions such as dental 3D printers, 3D printing software, curing technology, washing systems, and materials, and BEGO, a leading specialist in the field of prosthodontics and implant dentistry.
Oqton, a software provider, acquired by 3D Systems last year, that helps manufacturers increase innovation and efficiency by intelligently automating production, and Eplus3D, a leading global supplier of metal 3D printing solutions, have entered a strategic dental 3D printing partnership. Through this collaboration, both companies intend to enable dental laboratory professionals to increase productivity and provide a better service to their customers. This will be made possible by making Oqton’s AI-powered Manufacturing OS platform available to users of Eplus3D’s metal 3D printers. The combination of Oqton’s Manufacturing OS, and Eplus3D’s printing technology, as well as both organizations’ deep dental expertise, is intended to result in dental solutions that include full traceability and automation.
BEAMIT Group, partly owned by SANDVIK, has invested in a GE Additive Concept Laser M Line system to meet growing demand from its aerospace and defense customers for both large format metal 3D printed components and the assistance in industrializing additive production.
Osseus, an innovative spinal solutions company, obtained FDA 510(k) clearance and launch of the Pisces-SA Standalone ALIF Interbody System. The Pisces-SA interbody can be used with both bone screws and alternative fixation bone anchors allowing for increased intraoperative flexibility.
Humabiologics, an industry leader in providing human-derived biomaterials for regenerative medicine, founded by scientists and tissue industry experts to address the gap between the gift of donated human tissues and researchers, and Fisher Scientific, a global leader in life sciences, are partnering to serve researchers in academia and industry who are working on regenerative medicine research.
Orion Medical GmbH, founded in Cham, Switzerland in March 2022, is a manufacturing solutions provider for the medical devices industry. The company is closely linked to Orion Additive Manufacturing GmbH (Orion AM), an established manufacturer of 3D printing systems for high-performance polymers based in Berlin, Germany. The key advantage of Orion Medical’s additive manufacturing technology is its Thermal Radiation Heating (TRH) system, which enables the 3D printing of customized medical devices on-demand with injection-molded strength and 100% density.
3D printed prosthetic manufacturer Protosthetics has launched what it claims is the field’s first full-service, in-house 3D printing program for use in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) practices.
Barcelona-based 3D printer manufacturer BCN3D has produced 300 3D printed parts to create tourniquets to aid the humanitarian relief effort in Ukraine.
Formlabs introduced the new BioMed Black Resin and BioMed White Resin, two highly opaque medical-grade materials targeted for use in biocompatible applications.
A 3D printing network in Michigan is rushing to aid Ukrainians during wartime by printing parts for tourniquets. The humanitarian effort is being led locally by Automation Alley’s Project DIAMOnD, a 3D printing network of 300 small and medium-sized manufacturers, which is working with Makershelp, a 3D printing organization in Denmark, to fulfill a request from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry to supply tourniquets to help those in need of medical assistance during the Russian assault on Ukraine. Project DIAMOnD will activate its emergency mode to mobilize all printers in its network to print tourniquet clips before final assembly in Denmark.
US 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has announced its entry into the radiation oncology market with the launch of its new Virtual Surgical Planning or ‘VSP’ Bolus solution.
Researchers at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering have developed a highly specialized 3D printing technique (using vat photopolymerization technology) that allows microfluidic channels to be fabricated on chips at a precise microscale not previously achieved.
Project DIAMOnD (Distributed, Independent, Agile Manufacturing On-Demand) has joined the growing number of organizations which have committed to 3D printing aid for those Ukrainians injured by Russian troops.
3Deus Dynamics, a developer of 3D printed silicone medical devices, is developing a new hybrid process that combines 3D printing and injection molding to produce anatomical models for the medical sector.
Netherlands-based non-profit 3D Sierra Leone has been nominated for an award by the World Health Organization (WHO) in recognition of its work in 3D printing prosthetics for the West African nation’s amputees.
Cresent, an Indian hornbill at ZooTampa in Florida, USA, has become the first bird to receive restorative surgery after developing a life-threatening tumor. The tumor was located under Crecent’s casque, without which her sinuses would be left exposed. The surgery saw her casque being replaced using biocompatible 3D printing technology.
The findings, published by a University College London (UCL)-led research team, improve the prospects of how 3D printers could be integrated into rapid-paced clinical settings for the on-demand production of personalized medicines. For the current study, the researchers loaded printlets (printed tablets) with paracetamol – one of many medicines that can be produced using 3D printing.
Surgeons at Israel’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center (SZMC) have successfully transplanted the world’s thinnest artificial cornea into the eye of a patient, according to a Jerusalem Post report.
Evonik is expanding its portfolio of 3D printable biomaterials for medical technology: The specialty chemicals company has developed VESTAKEEP iC4800 3DF, a new osteoconductive PEEK filament, for 3D printed implants, that improves fusion between bone and implants. The high-performance polymer can be processed in common extrusion-based 3D printing technologies such as fused filament fabrication (FFF).
CurifyLabs and Natural Machines have entered a strategic partnership to develop a technology that enables customized medicine production through 3D printing – producing personalized medicines for human and veterinary patients, on-site in pharmacies and hospitals. Compounding is the manual preparation of individualized drug treatments for patients where an optimal treatment cannot be achieved with the currently available medicinal products. There are many talented pharmacists who are able to compound drugs manually but the process is ineffective and lacks quality control.
Automated post-processing systems manufacturer Additive Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) has deployed its PostPro chemical vapor smoothing technology to improve the surface finish, comfort, and durability of 3D printed prosthetics.
Pharmaceutical customization technology developer CurifyLabs has partnered with food printing firm Natural Machines with the aim of bringing a new low-cost drug 3D printer to market.
Remember when, in 2017, scientists 3D printed an artificial ovary and implanted it into a sterile mouse, which later gave birth to healthy pups? Now, science has gone one step further by 3D printing testicular cells – showing promising early signs of sperm-producing capabilities.
Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Western Australia are developing 3D printed artificial heart valves made from a patient’s own cells that grow as the individual ages.
Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin’s Pharmaceutical Engineering and 3D Printing (PharmE3D) Labs have gained US federal backing to create custom additive manufactured birth control devices.
Finland-based bioprinting firm Brinter, together with extrusion technology developer Puredyne, has announced the launch of its new Visco Bio printhead for use with its 3D bioprinters.
The venture capital arm of German chemicals firm Evonik has invested in Nevada-based 3D printed pharmaceutical firm Laxxon Medical to bring the mass production of 3D printed tablets closer to reality.
Additive manufacturing solutions provider Eplus3D entered a partnership with Austrian industry experts HAGI and ISG Dental. Both partners have extensive experience in their respective industries and will therefore help to find suitable process solutions for local customers.
3D Systems and Saremco Dental AG entered a strategic partnership to accelerate innovation in digital dentistry. This effort brings together the power of 3D Systems’ industry-leading NextDent digital dentistry solution with Saremco’s materials science expertise – enabling dental laboratories and clinics to address a variety of indications with unparalleled accuracy, repeatability, productivity, and lower total cost. To facilitate these capabilities, the companies are also announcing the immediate availability of CROWNTEC material to be used with 3D Systems’ NextDent 5100 dental 3D printer and industry-leading software for the production of patient-specific permanent crowns.
Researchers from the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, have used the microArch S140, a microscale 3D printer from Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), to help fabricate miniaturized vessels called hydrowells for culturing 3D cellular spheroids under microgravity conditions. The effort was part of the Spheroid Aggregation and Viability in Space, or SHAPE, experiment, which is supported by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and will be performed aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where scientific research is performed in low-earth orbit.
It was in the air, and now it’s official. TRUMPF has acquired the joint venture with SISMA in Italy completely which means the German company’s additive business will now focus on the medical and dental businesses as well.
A London man has reportedly become the first person in the world to be fitted with a 3D printed prosthetic eye.
A Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust patient was the first person in the world to be supplied solely with a fully digital 3D printed prosthetic eye on 25 November 2021. He first tried his eye on 11 November alongside a traditional acrylic prosthetic. By going home on 25 November with just his printed eye, he is the first patient to use a 3D printed eye as their sole prosthetic.
Stratasys continues to enhance anatomic modeling solutions for healthcare providers through the introduction of a new software module, Digital Anatomy Creator, for Stratasys Digital Anatomy 3D Printers. The new software allows users to easily manipulate material formations and customize the internal structures of their prints to achieve patient-specific anatomic models that are a direct replication of a patient’s pathologic and biologic anatomy.
Stratasys continues to enhance anatomic modeling solutions for healthcare providers through the introduction of a new software module, Digital Anatomy Creator, for Stratasys Digital Anatomy 3D Printers. The new software allows users to easily manipulate material formations and customize the internal structures of their prints to achieve patient-specific anatomic models that are a direct replication of a patient’s pathologic and biologic anatomy.
PrinterPrezz and Uniformity Labs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to utilize Uniformity’s technology in laser powder bed fusion and binder jetting for medical device applications.
Advancements in additive manufacturing have the potential to significantly improve health care, allowing for surgical implants to be custom designed for each patient. Lauren Judkins, a graduate student in the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering, is adapting these advancements to enhance the recovery of patients who experienced rib injuries.“To create designs specifically for each unique patient, 3D printing is a necessity,” Judkins said. “I’m really motivated by the impacts my work could have on human health in the future.”
Formlabs is the first 3D printing company listed in a major group purchasing organization (GPO) catalog, demonstrating the increasing demand for 3D printed surgical tools and medical supplies in hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs). Formlabs received a contract from Vizient, the largest member-driven healthcare GPO in the nation, to offer its 3D printers, materials, and solutions for converting CT/MR imaging into tactile, patient-specific anatomical replicas for surgical planning, implant sizing, and patient consent. The contract provides negotiated pricing, terms and conditions for Vizient member healthcare organizations.
Bioprinting startup Brinter has today announced a partnership with LED Tailor to introduce the new Spectral Blue disinfecting blue light feature embedded in its multi-material 3D bioprinting solution Brinter. The system enables the safe production of e.g. tissue models and drugs, and minimizes the need for separate cleanrooms, making bioprinters more portable and safe.
3D printed anatomical models developed by rapid prototyping service provider Laser Modelling Israel (LMI) have aided surgeons in a complex segmentation surgery for conjoined twins.
Health Canada, the government arm that deals with national health, has approved its first Canadian-made 3D printed medical implant.
Skåne University Hospital is the first hospital in the world to 3D print a PEEK cranioplasty implant on site for it to be successfully received by a patient. The implant, based on Evonik‘s VESTAKEEP PEEK biomaterial filament, was 3D printed using the ApiumM220 3D printer from the German company Apium. While this is the first reported case of an implant to be 3D printed and implanted in the same hospital location, other companies, such as Lima Corporate, are currently developing on-site 3D printing capabilities for metal implants.
Biotechnology firm Prellis Biologics has announced the closure of a $14.5 million Series B funding round alongside the creation of a novel antibody discovery platform.
Primaeam Solutions Pvt. Ltd (PRIMAEAM), an Indian additive parts manufacturing company, inaugurated its new Additive Manufacturing Customer Experience Centre, Innovation & Incubation Centre for Healthcare in Chennai. Mr. S. Pankaj Kumar Bansal, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, TIDCO, inaugurated the center in the presence of Dr. S. Christopher, Former Chairman – DRDO, Dr. N. Vivek, MDS, Dean- SRM Dental College and Dr. Rita Christopher, Dean- NIMHANS.
Regenerative medicine firm CTIBIOTECH has developed a new 3D bioprinting platform to deliver personalized medicine for patients with colorectal cancer.
Bioconvergence company BICO is partnering with Nanochon, a startup developing regenerative joint replacements. Under the terms of the deal, Nanochon will purchase $1.5 million worth of products and services from BICO’s SCIENION to develop 3D printed regenerative joint implants. Nanochon’s novel joint implant technology promises to deliver faster and more successful recoveries for patients while reducing costs to health providers, payers, and patients.
And that’s why you really should never say never in 3D printing. When Sarco was introduced a couple of years ago as a 3D printed assisted suicide pod to simplify euthanasia we wrote that off as a publicity—or at most an artistic—stunt (so much so that we did not even cover the story). But we should not have written it off and we should have covered the story. Now the Sarco pod has been OK’d to KO by the Swiss authorities (one of the first nations to legalize euthanasia.
And that’s why you really should never say never in 3D printing. When Sarco was introduced a couple of years ago as a 3D printed assisted suicide pod to simplify euthanasia we wrote that off as a publicity—or at most an artistic—stunt (so much so that we did not even cover the story). But we should not have written it off. Now the Sarco pod has been OK’d by the Swiss authorities (one of the first nations to legalize euthanasia).
Industrial 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys has introduced a new software module, the Digital Anatomy Creator, for its Digital Anatomy 3D printers in order to enhance the production of 3D printed anatomic models.
The medical 3D printing industry marked an exciting milestone in Canada this week: Health Canada (a government department tasked with national health policies) has approved a 3D printed medical implant made by LARA 3D in Quebec City. The 3D printed device, a patient-specific mandibular plate, is the first made by a Canadian manufacturer to be granted authorization for implantation.
Scientists at the Irish RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed a novel bio-ink that can be 3D printed into tissues capable of fast-forwarding the human wound-healing process.
California-based PrinterPrezz has been on the move lately, first with the high-profile acquisition of Vertex Manufacturing and shortly thereafter with the inauguration of a new, larger HQ and Innovation Center in the Bay Area. Now the company is making the news again for installing two Dekstop Metal binder jetting systems, a Shop and a Production system.
Incredible AM (aka 3D Incredible) has been one of the pioneers in India for metal 3D printing with a state-of-the-art AM plant located in Pune. The company has now reported that it has produced over 600 3D printed implants and medical devices, making it one of the largest and most advanced such service providers in the world.
While microneedle patches have been studied for decades, the work by Carolina and Stanford overcomes some past challenges: through 3D printing, the microneedles can be easily customized to develop a 3D printed vaccine patch that could be used for flu, measles, hepatitis and COVID-19 vaccination.
Paragon Medical, a global provider of medical components and products, announced the groundbreaking on a new additive manufacturing facility in Pierceton, Indiana. Paragon Medical broke ground on the new medical AM facility with local dignitaries in attendance including Joseph Thallemer, Mayor of Warsaw; David Rosenberg, IEDC Executive Vice President; and Mary Martin, Regional Director in the Office of Senator Mike Braun.
Materialise has introduced its new Dental Module for Magics. This addition to the Magics software is designed to enable dental labs to fully optimize and automate their 3D printing preparation workflow for dental applications. With dentistry becoming more digitalized, Dental Module provides dental labs with the easy-to-use tools required to ensure a scalable 3D printing process.
Engineers at Washington State University (WSU) and DL ADV-Tech have used 3D printing to develop a means of detecting exposure to the potentially-carcinogenic herbicide glyphosate.
Korea-based biotech startup Plcoskin is set to lead an international joint research project focused on developing a new type of 3D printed breast implant.
Stryker, a major adopter of AM for implants production is establishing a new medical R&D Lab in Queensland, Australia that builds on existing partnerships with hospitals, researchers, universities and local governments to drive the transformation of research into viable, commercially available precision medical device technology.
What do certification bodies or notified bodies look at when validating additive manufacturing processes? In the MedTech sector, their focus will be on personnel qualification and, in particular, the process chain. In its new white paper, TÜV SÜD outlines the state-of-the-art manufacturing method and takes a closer look at the applicable standards. “We point out existing gaps and potential issues related to the additive manufacturing of medical devices, and outline feasible procedures”, said Simon Schlagintweit, Lead Auditor Additive Manufacturing at TÜV SÜD. The publication explains the individual steps in process chain qualification and validation and discusses the post-processing of products. The white paper’s target audience includes industry representatives, but also decision-makers in point-of-care diagnostics in areas such as research institutes and hospitals.
The 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards shortlists are open for voting, have your say now.
Bioprinting company T&R Biofab and B Braun, a major healthcare solutions provider, held a joint presentation to launch T&R’s new 3D printed PCL Craniofacial bone implants products. The event, hosted by B Braun Korea was held at the Dragon City Hotel in Seoul.
Stratasys, an expert in polymer 3D printing solutions, has signed an agreement with French med-tech start-up Bone 3D, designed to put Stratasys 3D printing technology directly into the hands of France’s front-line medical professionals.
PrinterPrezz, Inc. and Vertex Manufacturing have completed the merger between the companies, both active in the advanced manufacturing sector and specifically in advancing and evolving the AM workflow. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal is significant as it marks one of the first times that a new entry AM software company (PrinterPrezz) has acquired a physical AM service provider (Vertex). Both companies are innovative in their approach to AM: PrinterPrezz in terms of its holistic approach to the AM workflow and Vertex, a new company founded by industry veterans, in terms of their adoption of new AM technologies such as those provided by Velo3D along with PrinterPrezz software.
Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, and DiveDesign partnered to develop a custom 3D printed K9 quad cart for rescue dog “Wobbly Hannah” (@wobblyhannahtotherescue).
Voting shortlists for the 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open. Who do you think should receive top honors this year? Have your say now.
SprintRay Inc., a global MedTech pioneer and industry leader in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, signed a five-year partnership with eight-time Olympic gold medalist, Usain Bolt. Bolt and SprintRay are also collaborating with the Jamaican Dental Association to invest in the launch of “Bolt Labs, powered by SprintRay” – an initiative with a mission to make world-class digital dental care accessible to Jamaica.
The 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards shortlists are open for voting, have your say now.
The 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards shortlists are open for voting, have your say now.
The PhonoGraft biomimetic hearing-restoration technology, advanced through a six-year effort by a multidisciplinary research team at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE)/Mass General Brigham (MGB), has now entered commercial development. If successful, it could mitigate pain, drainage, and hearing loss associated with eardrum perforations that affect millions of individuals worldwide.
Nominations for the 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open, have your say who is leading the industry now.
A 3D printed orthosis capable of counteracting the negative effects of hypertonia in children with cerebral palsy has won a national James Dyson Award.
Medical device company MANTIZ has acquired an Eplus3D EP-M260 metallic 3D printer to additively manufacture cages in titanium for use in implant surgery. The entire process of shaping the company’s proprietary PANTHER spinal implants is now carried out internally by MANTIZ.
Clinicians at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and MIT have developed a novel 3D printed shielding that protects the healthy tissues of cancer patients during radiotherapy.
Additive manufacturing has been touted for its potential to have a major role in disrupting the traditional orthopedic industry for almost a decade. However, even in a sector that grapples with increasing costs for orthopedic specialists and demands for improved comfort, aesthetics, and quality of life, adoption of AM technologies has been slow. Much of it has to do with costs and quality of materials as well as the productivity rate of the machines. This is now changing as material giant BASF’s Forward AM is partnering with Belgian MedTech company Spentys to make these supports truly available, accessible, and viable.
restor3d merger with Kinos Medical, an expert total ankle replacement company. restor3d was founded with a mission to enable surgeons to repair and reconstruct the human body using 3D printing technologies, advanced biomaterials, and artificial intelligence. In 2018, the company invested in significant infrastructure and in-house manufacturing capabilities to expand its offering of implants in orthopedic and spine indications. With a robust pipeline of products slated for regulatory submission, recent FDA clearances include osteotomy wedges and cervical interbody fusion implants. The merger with Kinos Medical will accelerate restor3d’s expansion into the high-growth foot and ankle market in the U.S.
Desktop Health, a service recently launched by Desktop Metal, received the Conformité Européenne (CE) Mark certification for its Flexcera resin, a proprietary technology for use in 3D fabrication of high-quality dental prosthetics. The CE Mark affirms that Flexcera resins meet the requirements of the European Medical Devices Directive, paving the way for Desktop Health to launch Flexcera resins to dental professionals within the European Union (EU) and other CE Mark geographies. Flexcera Base, which recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Flexcera Smile are Desktop Health’s first formulated and optimized digital dental solutions.
BellaSeno GmbH, an ISO 13485-certified MedTech company developing absorbable scaffolds using additive manufacturing technologies, established a novel, leading-edge additive manufacturing facility for medical implants supported by the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Leipzig, Germany.
FluidForm, an expert in the field of human tissue for research, repair, and replacement signed an agreement with Ethicon, a member of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, to develop 3D bioprinted applications using FluidForm’s patented FRESH technology. This collaboration leverages FluidForm’s FRESH 3D bioprinting platform to achieve specific tissue characteristics that cannot be manufactured with conventional techniques.
Researchers at the UK-based Staffordshire University have developed an ultra-low-cost insole with integrated sensing capabilities that could help prevent the growth of life-threatening foot ulcers in diabetics.
The capabilities of a 3DUJ-553 3D printer from Mimaki, a manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutters, have been leveraged by the University of Florence and Mimaki’s exclusive Italian importer Bompan to produce 3D printed anatomical models with a previously unattainable degree of color fidelity.
Munich-based chemical firm Linde Group and clinical printing specialist 3D Medlab have announced the results of testing their new process gas to optimize the 3D printing of medical components.
Biotechnology specialist Pixelbio has developed a novel 3D printed molecular biochip with the potential to ramp-up the pace of clinical genetic testing.
Medical device manufacturer 3D LifePrints has gained ISO certification for the quality assurance procedures behind its 3D printed surgical guides and anatomical models.
3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has announced a co-development agreement with CollPlant, a regenerative medicine firm, to develop 3D bioprinted soft tissue structures for breast reconstruction treatments.
A group of Korean scientists have developed a low-cost 3D printed adapter that turns everyday smartphones into endoscopic vocal cord disease diagnostic tools.
The introduction of a novel, optimal gas mixture by Linde comes on the back of earlier promising results from a joint development program between Linde and 3D Medlab – now part of Marle Group – to improve quality and productivity of advanced thin medical devices made from Ti64.
Volumetric 3D bioprinter manufacturer and EPFL spin-out Readily3D has taken the first step towards developing a 3D printed living model of the human pancreas for testing diabetes medicines.
Over the last decade, 3D bioprinting has come on leaps and bounds, with significant advances being made in the development of viable, patient-specific soft tissues.
For many of the 422 million people around the world living with diabetes, glucose monitoring is a necessary, and uncomfortable, daily chore requiring a painful pinprick to test the blood. Newer technologies, like the FreeStyle Libre, offer continuous monitoring, but the system still requires that a 5mm rigid metallic needle be driven into the skin. While not as bothersome as the fingertip lance, it’s still uncomfortable for the patient. Aiming to develop a solution that’s more comfortable for the user, the AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology – partnered with DirectSens and In-Vision to launch the NUMBAT research project. NUMBAT aims at leveraging high-resolution DLP 3D printing to create an array of polymeric microneedles for minimally invasive—and less painful—continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
3D LifePrints, a leading 3D technology company providing innovative solutions to the medical sector, has achieved ISO 13485:2016 certification for its Quality Management System (QMS).
3D printer manufacturer B9Creations has partnered with South Dakota-based social services organization Black Hills Works to 3D print custom assistive devices for over 600 disabled individuals.
Stratasys introduced a medical 3D printer that sets a new standard for healthcare providers and medical device companies by combining multiple applications in one system. With multiple materials and multi-color capabilities, the Stratasys J5 MediJet 3D printer enables users to create highly detailed 3D anatomical models and drilling and cutting guides with approved third-party 510k-cleared segmentation software. Guides and models are certified as sterilizable and biocompatible, and the printer is economical and compact enough for small lab spaces.
A mechanical engineering student at TU Delft has designed a prosthetic upper-limb socket that can be 3D printed using an everyday FDM system for only €30.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have utilized 3D printing to develop more comfortable radiation-receiving antennas for cancer patients to wear during microwave breast hyperthermia procedures.
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The LC Magna, a large LED stereolithography 3D printer from Photocentric, has been integrated with 3Shape’s Clear Aligner Enterprise software solution. Developed specifically for designing clear aligners, 3Shape’s software provides a flexible and scalable option for a digital production process.
Kanfit 3D, the Israel-based firm specializing in 3D printing with aluminum and titanium alloys, has entered into a partnership with Anthill Ventures, a speed scaling ecosystem that invests in and scales early-stage companies to penetrate the Indian market.
The Materialise Phits Suite is a new standard of personalized care program that helps improve patient mobility. After decades of experience in gait analysis and 3D technology, Materialise wants to start the next generation of insoles, leveraging the latest digital path capture technology, advanced analysis software and 3D printing to achieve a more accurate, efficient and fully customizable workflow. The Materialise Phits Suite is a digital toolbox for accurate and efficient end-to-end workflow, that can assist in providing patient counseling, care, and treatment.
PrinterPrezz and Vertex have partnered to provide customers with multiple services for advanced medical device additive manufacturing.
XFeet, a manufacturer of custom foot orthotics, has adopted HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 technology to produce its insoles and accelerate the growth of the digital transition of the podiatry sector in France.
Materials manufacturer Covestro and orthopedic service provider GeBioM, based in Münster, Germany, are expanding their cooperation in the field of orthopedic footwear. In addition to producing lasts and trial shoes, they now support orthopedic shoemakers in the production of custom insoles using 3D printing. A new Addigy FPU 79A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) from Covestro is used in the form of filaments. Together with Danish printer partner Create it REAL, the companies offer a novel and sustainable solution for the digital production of shoe insoles.
Researchers based at the Dutch Wageningen University (WUR) have developed a COVID-19 home test kit that can be 3D printed and constructed for less than 20p.
PRIMAEAM (pronounced as “PREMIUM”), a new entrant to Additive Manufacturing in India, is betting on GE Additive’s Electron Beam Melting technology. The company, which already provides polymer 3D printing services with FDM and MJF technology, just installed a new Arcam Q10 system.
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is seeking approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its 3D printed hearing aids.
Global manufacturing services company Jabil has revealed its intentions to establish a new 3D printing center of excellence in the U.S. To create the center, the company is planning to invest around $42 million to expand a healthcare facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Andiamo, a UK-based medtech company specializing in 3D printed orthotics, has been crowned London’s most innovative tech company. It was voted to first place in the inaugural London Tech 50, a ranking of the city’s most exciting technology companies. The list is established by BusinessCloud, a business tech media company headquartered in Manchester.
Surgeons at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK, have fitted a 3D printed sternum implant in a patient to help repair their breastbone.
Leading Chinese 3D printer, 3D scanner and electronic device manufacturer Shining 3D Tech. Co., Ltd, has shared that it’s partner, Mantiz, is using Shining 3D machines to produce medical implants.
axial3D, a medical manufacturing service provider headquartered in Northern Ireland, is providing Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with an on-site 3D printing lab. Housed at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, one of six potential beneficiaries of the facility, the lab will be used to produced patient-specific models for pre-surgical planning.
Scientists from the Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL) University of São Paulo (USP), have utilized 3D bioprinting to develop functional hepatic organoids, otherwise known as mini-livers.
Australian med-tech company Anatomics has conducted a study on the benefits of 3D printed patient-specific medical models for pre-surgical planning.
GE Healthcare Life Sciences and Advanced Solutions Life Sciences (ASLS), a Kentucky-based biotechnology firm, are collaborating to build an integrated 3D bioprinter by combining their respective technologies.
AdventHealth Nicholson Center, a Florida-based medical training facility, has launched its Prototype Lab to enable the development of medical devices using additive manufacturing technology.
San Francisco biotechnology company Prellis Biologics has launched a web-based platform for the generative design and download of 3D printable tissue scaffolds. Named TissueWorkshop™, the platform has been created to reduce the amount of time required to create such structures, freeing experts from labor-intensive design cycles.
Radiophysicists at the National Research Tomsk State University (TSU) in Russia have successfully 3D printed with tecason, a high performance medical grade plastic with a melting point between 350-400°C.
GE Healthcare, the medical equipment subsidiary of multinational conglomerate GE, and SLA and SLS 3D printer provider Formlabs have announced a collaboration aiming to make it easier for clinicians to 3D print patient-specific anatomical models from imaging data.
Scottish biomaterial developer, Biogelx, and Regemat 3D, a Spain manufacturer of bioprinting systems, have partnered to develop a new skin model as well as offering complete bioprinting solutions for research institutes worldwide.
Scientists from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Pennsylvania, have used a novel 3D bioprinting method to build functional parts of the human heart.
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith (UAFS) has collaborated with Methodist Village Senior Living to provide Alzheimer’s residents with 3D printed recreational items.
Guyson International, a North Yorkshire-based industrial finishing equipment manufacturer, has launched its Powder Flush system to clean 3D printed medical implant trabecular structures.
B9Creations, the South Dakota-based manufacturer of the B9 Core Series of DLP 3D Printers, has launched a new additive manufacturing Healthcare Division & Service Bureau as well as a 3D printer targeted at the medical industry.
Thinking Robot Studios Inc., a privately held medtech company based in Buffalo, New York, has been granted permission to build an implant 3D printing facility. Located at Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park, a reclaimed ‘smart growth’ area, 22 acres of land is to be acquired by the company. The intention is to build office and manufacturing space on the lot worth an estimated $84 million.
Robert Smith, an iron worker from St. Petersburg, Florida, has become the first person to receive a 3D printed finger bone implant in the U.S.
CollPlant, an Israeli 3D bioprinting and regenerative medicine firm, has announced that it is developing implants for breast tissue regeneration. After conducting early development, the company has successfully produced the first prototypes. It believes that these 3D bioprinted breast implants could have the potential to provide a safer alternative to the standard methods of permanent breast implantation.
The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) are building a 3D printing clinical data registry to support medical professionals applying additive manufacturing in healthcare.
LimaCorporate installed the first EOS metal LPBF (DMLS) 3D printers to the new ProMade PoC Center for Complex Orthopedic Solutions at HSS in New York City. The ProMade PoC Center will also host EBM printers when it will be officially inaugurated later this year.
After joining the BEAMIT Group, ZARE has now acquired a majority stake in the additive manufacturing (AM) medical company Proxera. As a result of this acquisition, one of the leading metal AM service providers in Europe will now also enter the high-growth market for 3D printed metal implants.
Scientists from medical tech company Fluicell have partnered with clinical R&D firm Cellectricon and the Swedish Karolinska Institutet university to 3D bioprint neural cells into complex patterns.
Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, the company behind the first FDA approved 3D printed drug Spritam, has entered into a long-term collaboration with private non-profit research and development (R&D) firm, Battelle.
Italian biomedical start-up Exos has debuted its new ‘Armor’ range of customizable 3D printed back braces at the online CES 2021 technology trade show.
Austrian startup Luxinergy developed a new material and a fast DLP 3D printer addressing two major challenges in the field of orthotics: comfort and speed. This innovation was made possible through advancements in materials science and DLP technology.
Last month, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering and the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine demonstrated a 3D printed microneedle array platform capable of delivering vaccines directly into the skin, with the particular goal of improving COVID-19 vaccine delivery in the developing world. The study was conducted using micro-stereolithography PμSL 3D printing technology developed by Boston Micro Fabrication and is the latest effort in a race to the most precise 3D prints to produce objects used in our macroscopic world.
Population aging is one of Europe’s great challenges in the 21st century. By 2024, 22% of Europeans are expected to be over 65. Patients suffering from chronic joint detop fects or defects in the oral and maxillofacial regions have a significantly reduced quality of life and are continually dependent on health care. The Covid-19 crisis has shown how dangerous chronically overcrowded hospitals and large cohorts of care-dependent and risk-grouped patients can become. Therefore, science and technology must work together to ensure that living longer can be synonymous with living well. INKplant, a project funded by the European Union H2020, was conceived to face this challenge and democratize its new solutions.
Electronic medical device manufacturer EMTEL has selected 3DGence 3D printers for its product prototyping and part supply.
Additive manufacturing and 3D scanning have been increasingly integrated within the healthcare sector. 3D Systems, in particular, has contributed significantly to the advancement of surgical procedures with this technology.
American multinational consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) has signed a 3D bioprinting research and development agreement with San Francisco biotechnology company Aether.
ROKIT Healthcare, a Korean 3D bioprinter manufacturer previously known as ROKIT, has introduced a novel 3D bioprinting method to treat scarred lesions.
Researchers at St. Mary’s Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, have applied 3D printing to the treatment of a condition that can cause respiratory problems and sleep disorders. In a clinical study, the team used 3D printing to develop a biocompatible splint that could be inserted into the nose and help correct a deviated septum. In 20 volunteer patients, aged 18-74, the 3D printed device proved to outperform other artificial splints.
Kijenzi, a humanitarian start-up from Pennsylvania State University’s College of Engineering, is aiding remote healthcare facilities in Kenya with 3D printed medical supplies.
Australian metal 3D printer manufacturer Aurora Labs has agreed to develop designs, specifications and parameters for the 3D printing of titanium medical implants. Developed under partnership with the University of Western Australia (UWA) and Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), the parameters will come in the form of an instructional guide for using an Aurora Labs 3D printer to manufacture medical implants.
Contract 3D printed implant manufacturer Tangible Solutions, has announced the expansion of its facility in Fairborn, Ohio.
California-headquartered medical imaging company QT Ultrasound has used its detailed pictures of microanatomy to 3D print a model of a woman’s breast tissue. A tangible model of the complex duct system, the model presents a potential avenue for diagnosticians working with breast cancer.
Swedish 3D bioprinter manufacturer CELLINK has agreed to acquire the in-vitro technology specialist MatTek Corporation for $68 million.
New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and implant manufacturer, LimaCorporate unveiled the first provider-based 3D design and printing facility for custom complex joint replacement solutions.
Renishaw additive manufacturing has played a pivotal role in the recent clinical trial of an experimental treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. Documented in a two part-series produced by the BBC titled The Parkinson’s Drug Trial: A Miracle Cure? this trial includes the novel development of 3D printed medical device capable of delivering drugs directly to affected parts of the brain. After 40-80 weeks in-situ, the implants have become part of a potentially landmark advance in the treatment of this long-term degenerative disorder.
Scientists from the Foundation for Research and Science Development in Poland (Fundacja Badań I Rozwoju Nauki or Fundacja BIRN) are using 3D bioprinting to create a bionic pancreas.
Formlabs is introducing Scan to Model, a new feature in its PreForm software that is designed to convert intraoral scans into easily 3D printable models. Dental professionals can use Scan to Model as an entry point into digital dentistry workflows without having prior experience with digital dental design software.
Scientists from London’s Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Royal Marsden Hospital have used 3D printed tungsten disks within a gamma camera for higher resolution medical imaging.
CELLINK, the Swedish manufacturer of the BIO X 3D printer, and Volumetric a Texas-based biomaterials and biomanufacturing company, have introduced the Lumen X Digital Light Processing (DLP) bioprinter to produce large vascular structures.
UNYQ, a San Francisco-based company specializing in 3D printed medical wearables, has announced the launch of the UNYQ Socket, a 3D printed prosthetic leg socket. It is available for order now after being unveiled at the British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotists (BAPO) in Harrogate, UK on March 15th 2019.
South Korean scientists are working to improve cancer treatments with 3D bioprinting.
RTI Surgical, a Michigan-based medical technology company, has enrolled its first Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) patient for clinical evaluation of its Fortilink Interbody Fusion (IBF) 3D printed implants.
Philadelphia-headquartered 3D bioprinting company Allevi has launched the Skin Bioink Kit. A material package, this kit is to be used in conjunction with its 3D bioprinters to produce patches of skin. It aims to allow tissue engineers to design multi-layered skin patches that are more akin to natural human skin.
Researchers from George Washington University (GWU) and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have used open-source 3D printing to monitor cardiac arrhythmias otherwise known as an irregular heartbeat.
Scientists from the Israel Institute of Technology have developed an automated production line for 3D printing low-cost customized prosthetic limbs.
GeBioM and Create it REAL stand at the beginning of a long-term partnership that might revolutionize how personalized insoles are produced. The partners are launching a disrupting insole production concept that uses 3D printing and digitalization of production workflows.
CD3D Medical, the R&D arm of Polish 3D printing news provider CD3D Sp. z. o. o. (Centrum Druku 3D) has created an Open 3D Bioprinting Cluster in Lodz. Part of the Bionanopark laboratory complex, this facility, according to the company, is one of largest of its kind in Europe, housing 21 SKAFFOSYS 3D bioprinters developed specially for this purpose.
Scientists at Rice University and the University of Maryland (UMD) have outlined a new proof-of-concept for 3D printing artificial bone tissue. With results published in Acta Biomaterialia, the hope is that such tissues may one day help to damage related to arthritis and sporting accidents.
Scientists at the University of Minnesota have produced a 3D printed transparent skull implant them to observe the inner workings of mouse-brains in real time. Named the See-Shell it could provide new insights for human brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Poietis, a French biotechnology company, has announced the granting of a third patent for its laser-assisted 3D bioprinting method.
Tangible Solutions, an Ohio-based manufacturer of medical devices, has validated the quality and consistency of its 3D printed titanium spinal implants. The results of this validation were published in a recent study.
3DP4ME, a Jordanian non-profit organization using 3D printing to meet human needs, and World Wide Hearing (WWH) are seeking to raise $200,000 to provide 3D printed hearing-aid molds in the Middle East.
Nexxt Spine, an Indiana-based medical device manufacturer, has expanded its metal 3D printing capabilities with the installation of two Concept Laser Mlab 100R systems from GE Additive.
Scientists at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich have developed a new technique to make organs, and even whole organisms transparent – which aims to lead to high-fiedlity 3D printed models.
A research article published in The Optical Society (OSA) journal Optics Letters describes how researchers have produced a 3D printed high-resolution digital holographic microscopy (DHM) microscope.
Heraeus Amloy, a metallurgy specialist, is working with the University of Graz to 3D print novel medical devices made of amorphous metals.
Chinese medical 3D printing provider Huaxiang Group has been granted landmark clearance from the country’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for a novel 3D printed spinal implant.
Health Canada, a department of the Canadian government, has issued new guidance for the 3D printing of medical devices.
Ukranian ceramic 3D printing service provider Kwambio and Estonian early stage investment firm WeFund Ventureshave launched a new 3D bioprinting project.
uLab Systems, a digital dental company based in California (CA), has announced a commercial milestone for its U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared dental aligner planning software, which allows for the same-day 3D printing of clear orthodontic appliances. The company has revealed that it has had over 13,000 cases planned with its “chairside” dental movement planning software, since launching a pilot program to receive market feedback for it in the summer of 2018.
Korean researchers have utilized a 3D printer to fabricate more affordable and customizable artificial testicles for patients in need of a testis transplant.
3D printed implant developer Osteopore has teamed up with Maastricht University Medical Centre (UMC+) to develop a bioresorbable bone implant that could prevent lower leg amputations, made possible using a 3D printer.
Advanced prosthetics manufacturer Partial Hand Solutions (PHS) has leveraged Formlabs’ new Form 1 3D printer to optimize its artificial limb manufacturing process.
Readily3D, a manufacturer of volumetric 3D bioprinters, has announced its participation in the European ENLIGHT project.
Scientists from the Canadian McMaster University and University of Waterloo have 3D printed a live model that’s capable of replicating the impact of smoking cannabis on the human lung.
Personalized precision medicine is on the rise. New tools and advanced technologies bring doctors cl ...
Materialise‘s 3D technologies played a crucial role in the world’s first successful si ...
Belgian software and service provider Materialise has used its 3D printing and software technologies to support a novel simultaneous double hand and face transplant.
3D printing has been of interest in the medical sector since the technology’s inception and is today used for a myriad of applications—from surgical guides and anatomical models to implants and tools. Recently, the technology has become especially important, providing support to local medics in times of great need. Selective laser sintering (SLS), specifically, has been an important tool in the medical AM world, supporting complex surgeries and procedures in the form of tools and visual aids.
Scientists from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have 3D printed a novel device that enables diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels using only perspiration and a standard smartphone.
The FDA has approved its first 3D printed talus metal implant designed to replace the main bone in the ankle joint connecting the leg to the foot. The agency issued a green light to New Jersey-based Additive Orthopaedics under humanitarian use for the treatment of avascular necrosis, a progressive condition that can lead to the death of bone tissue following a sudden injury that cuts off blood flow, such as a broken bone or dislocation.
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart and Robert Bosch Hospital are developing a novel 3D printed tissue platform that could replace animal testing in clinical trials.
Researchers from the German Kiel University have developed novel 3D printed ‘spiky-joints’ that provide wrist injury patients with a more flexible form of arm support.
Pandorum Technologies Pvt., a Bangalore-based biotechnology company, has used 3D bioprinted cornea tissue to promote scarless healing of wounds in the eye.
HP, manufacturers of the award-winning Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printers, and SmileDirectClub, a Nashville-based teledentistry company, have announced a partnership to increase the production of its customized clear aligners at RAPID + TCT.
3D Printing Industry is in Detroit this week to bring our readers all the news from RAPID + TCT. So far we’ve published over 30 articles dedicated to the all the latest in the additive manufacturing ecosystem – with much more to come.
Canadian 3D bioprinting technology company Aspect Biosystems has announced its involvement in a $2.2 million project seeking to find new treatments for cancer. Starting this year, the company will be working with collaborators at two of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies Merck and GSK, as well as McGill University’s Goodman Cancer Research Centre in Quebec.
Structo, a Singapore based dental 3D printer OEM has partnered with California based digital dentistry company uLab Systems to streamline the production of orthodontic clear aligners.
California-based institutions Transcriptic, a robotic cloud laboratory platform, and 3Scan, a digital 3D tissue model specialist, have announced a merger to form the company Strateos.
Aleph Objects, the manufacturer of LulzBot open source 3D printers, has confirmed its entry into the 3D bioprinting market. In partnership with Massachusetts based 3D bioprinting technology developer FluidForm, Aleph plans to launch LulzBot Bio hardware later this year.
Global medical technology firm Stryker, that has rapidly become a leader in 3D printed titanium implants, has announced plans to invest €200 million (approximately $225.8 million) for expansion of it’s R&D facilities in the Irish city of Cork.
California-based medical 3D printing service bureau PrinterPrezz has partnered with UCSF Surgical Innovations, an incubator-accelerator for medtech innovators at UC San Francisco.
Belgian 3D printing software company Materialise has received FDA approval for Mimics Enlight, a 3D modeling software for planning cardiovascular surgery.
Global medical device company LimaCorporate has confirmed that it has started construction of its forthcoming on-site 3D printing facility at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York. First confirmed in January this year, the partners held a ground breaking ceremony at the site at the end of May. Building works are scheduled for completion by 2020, and the center itself is expected to be in operation early in the same year.
The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux (CHU de Bordeaux) has become one of the first hospitals in the world to add a Stratasys J750 to its facilities. Used by the surgical team at CHU de Bordeaux’s Department of Urology and Kidney Transplantation the system is being applied to fabricate full color, detailed organ models.
Belgian software and 3D printing service provider Materialise has acquired a 75 percent stake in Engimplan, a Brazil-based medical device manufacturer. In this agreement, Materialise will apply its medical 3D printing expertise to Engimplan’s device portfolio. Together, the two companies will work to accelerate the introduction of 3D printed medical implants and instruments to the Brazilian market.
3D-printed orthodontics have come a long way in the past three years, and Carbon and Candid’s new partnership to produce models for clear aligners that straighten teeth is grist for this mill. Carbon’s L1 printers and DLS process allow Candid to introduce Candid Pro, its “orthodontics-as-a-service” doctor-driven clear aligner therapy. This service offers customized, on-demand clear aligners designed specifically for dental and orthodontic practices. The entire service is delivered on Candid’s digital platform.
3D Systems significantly expanded its focus on regenerative medicine and bioprinting solutions after reducing its workforce to concentrate on the healthcare AM sector. The expanded focus follows on great progress made in the development of 3D printing systems for solid-organ scaffolds. This progress is the product of collaboration between 3D Systems, United Therapeutics Corporation and UTC’s organ manufacturing and transplantation-focused subsidiary, Lung Biotechnology PBC. 3D Systems intends to leverage this work and accomplishments with other partners to invest, further develop and commercialize solutions for regenerative medicine. Applications of its R&D program include the development of non-solid organ applications requiring biologically sustainable vasculature.
Thrive Orthopedics, a distribution enterprise founded in 2017, debuted its very own product line with 3D-printed orthoses called the Balance 3D+ Brace, an ankle foot orthoses (AFO). The brace reduces postural sway and increases postural stability. This relative newcomer to the AM scene has created an orthotic that lines the sole of one’s foot while also bracing the heel and calf for additional support. The company prides itself on the elegance and aesthetically pleasing look of its product. It also projects product prices in line with industry standards.
Lincotek Additive has taken another step in its development program by increasing its production capacity to meet customer demand. The company is adding further EOS M400-4 additive machines in its brand new, state-of-the-art Additive Production Center for the aerospace and industrial sectors in Switzerland and obtained EN9100:2018 certification for its quality management system.
One of the industries that benefit the most from Additive Manufacturing technologies is for sure the ...
Biomodex, a provider of 3D printed anatomical models for medical training purposes, has launched a new 3D printed training system for the transseptal puncture procedure.
Once thought destined mainly for prototyping, additive manufacturing is now increasingly employed in the development of spare parts, small series production and tooling in forward-thinking manufacturing industries such as aerospace, electronics, automotive and medical devices. Among industries at the forefront of innovative manufacturing, the medical sector has emerged as a major segment driving the growth of additive manufacturing: France’s 3D MedLab operates at the forefront of this segment
Swedish 3D bioprinter and materials developer CELLINK has announced the launch of BIO X6, a new six-printhead bioprinting system that allows the combination of multiple materials, cells and tools. It also features an intelligent exchangeable printhead system and CELLINK’s patented Clean Chamber Technology to enhance advanced research and clinical applications.
nAngioDerm, a regenerative medicine project partnered with Microlight3D, a French ultra-high-resolution 3D printer manufacturer, has received funding in the amount of €747,000 to aid the healing of wounds from ulcers or major burns.
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, a network of medical centers under the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the University of Washington School (UW) of Medicine recently announced a two-year partnership aiming to advance medical 3D printing. Both organizations are collaborating to develop new applications for 3D printing in the diagnosis and treatment of complex heart conditions.
DePuy Synthes, a part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices group, has launched a new 3D printed titanium spine implant line. Named the CONDUIT Interbody Platform, the devices are the first release to use trademark technology from Germany’s Emerging Implant Technologies (EIT) since it was acquired by Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH in 2018.
Austrian ceramic 3D printer provider Lithoz has successfully installed two CeraFab 7500 machines at Plenum, a Brazilian medical device manufacturer. Entering a new geographical market with this sale, Dr. Johannes Homa, CEO of Lithoz, comments, “we are delighted to have such an innovative company as a first customer in this important market.
The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, and Shanghai-based researchers, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have received $300,000 to establish a 3D bioprinting research centre.
Leading 3D printer OEM 3D Systems has attained 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its VSP Orthopaedics platform. Offered exclusively through Onkos Surgical’s My3D™ Personalized Solutions Platform, VSP Orthopaedics is used for the virtual surgical planning of complex procedures. It can be combined with 3D Systems’ other areas of expertise to design and 3D print anatomical models and cutting guides for further surgical aid.
Leading 3D printer OEM Stratasys has released a medical upgrade to its award winning J750 system. The J750™ Digital Anatomy™ 3D printer, released to the public today, is made to for use by healthcare professionals. It is compatible with a new range of materials from Stratasys which are specifically designed to make anatomical models. Applied in pre-surgical planning, or for training, models made from these materials mimic the feel of live-tissue, providing surgeons with “a more realistic […] environment” and “no-risk setting” for practicing complex operations.
myReflection, a New Zealand-based medical start-up, is developing personalized breast prostheses for cancer patients post-mastectomy, using 3D scanning and 3D printed molds.
Multi award-winning 3D printer provider Markforged has announced that Shukla Medical, a surgical tool manufacturer, has used its Metal X system to 3D print surgical instrument prototypes, thereby cutting down the company’s yearly costs.
Qrons, a New York-based biotechnology start-up, has announced an Intellectual Property (IP) License Agreement with Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, to develop 3D printable implants to treat penetrating or traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Leading 3D printer OEM 3D Systems has announced a partnership with Antleron, a Belgium-based biotechnology company, to develop regenerative products for personalized patient care.
Surgeons at the Israeli Galilee Medical Center (GMC) have developed a novel 3D printing and Augmented Reality (AR)-based technique for treating eye socket fracture patients.
Denise Vicentin, a Brazilian cancer survivor who lost her right eye and part of her jaw, has received a facial prosthesis develop using a 3D printed prototype.
FossiLabs, a US-based medical 3D printing start-up, has announced the launch of its FFF 3D printed bone-like scaffolding structures using a porous PEEK material. Reportedly the first ‘fully’ porous 3D printed PEEK porous medical implants, the bone-like structures are designed to be used within implantable devices using Fossilabs’ proprietary hardware and software.
The impact of pandemic continued to dominate the headlines in the 3D printing industry during September. Whether it be the cancellation of industry events, or the efforts of additive manufacturers to help fight the disease, COVID-19 was never far from the news.
In this edition of Sliced, the 3D Printing Industry news digest, we cover the latest business developments, partnerships, and acquisitions across the additive manufacturing industry.
Leading 3D printer OEM 3D Systems and Israeli bioprinting material developer CollPlant have announced a joint development agreement seeking to create tissue and scaffold bioprinting solutions for third party collaborators.
3D printed patient-specific airway stents, developed by a doctor at Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center in Ohio, has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A worldwide collective of researchers and scientists from universities, institutions, and hospitals have come together to produce a roadmap for 3D bioprinting.
A 3D printed tumour designed and fabricated by 3D LifePrints, a UK-based medical technology company, has aided surgeons in the removal of a cancerous mass in six-year-old, Leah Bennett.
UPM, a Finnish alternative energy and material company, has launched a range of bioinks known as GrowInk, designed for various 3D bioprinting applications such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Researchers at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) in North Carolina have 3D bioprinted a microscopic model of the human body containing most of the vital organs. The miniature system will be used to detect potentially harmful effects of drugs before they are trialed with humans.
Merck, the global pharmaceutical company, has announced plans to work with AMCM, an EOS Group company that builds custom additive manufacturing machines. The two companies will work on developing and producing 3D printed tablets, first for clinical trials, then later for commercial manufacturing.
UK-based engineering technologies company, Renishaw, has announced a milestone in a medical study seeking to help sufferers with progressive nervous system disorder Parkinson disease. The study looks at a patented intraparenchymal drug delivery device and is the completion of a joint Phase 1-2 clinical study with pharmaceuticals expert Herantis Pharma.
Biomedical engineers from Rutgers University in New Jersey have developed a bio-ink for 3D printing that enables the construction of scaffolds to support growing human tissues. Significantly, the stiffness of the scaffolds can be controlled depending on the mixture of ink used, enabling applications for different types of tissues for repair or replacement.
With Italy now at the center of active Coronavirus cases, the country is in lockdown to combat the rapid spread of COVID-19. The large number of cases means that, inevitably, a huge strain has been placed on Italy’s healthcare system, and its supply chain.
A research team from the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has successfully scaled up the recycling of an important medical isotope using 3D printed parts. The new additively manufactured parts make the laboratory’s original recycling process – invented in 2015 – faster, more reliable and less costly, enabling the method to potentially be used on an industrial scale.
3D printed implant developer Osteopore has partnered with the National University of Singapore (NUS) spin-off Magloy Tech to commercialize its new OrthoMag bone graft product.
Chinese 3D printing technology startup Triastek has raised $15 million in Series A funding to accelerate the research and development of its 3D printed drugs.
Shanghai-based 3D printer manufacturer INTAMSYS has helped Swedish pharmaceutical firm ABIGO Medical keep its production line running by filling a delivery gap of spare parts with re-engineered 3D printed substitutes.
Lamborghini has directed its in-house 3D printing facilities to manufacture medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. The news comes after the Bologna-based supercar manufacturer’s home country became the center of the outbreak in Europe.
Canada-based Adaptiiv Medical Technologies has confirmed the sale of $1.8M of its shares in an equity offering. The $3M offering, which now has around $1.2M left to be sold, made its first sale on June 21, 2019. Adaptiiv expects the offering to last no more than a year.
German metal 3D printer manufacturer SLM Solutions has announced it has entered into a partnership with Canwell Medical, a medical device manufacturer based in China.
Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, the company behind the first FDA approved 3D printed drug Spritam, has announced a partnership with Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy to advance the technology and science of 3D pharmaceutical printing. Their collaboration will focus on developing future 3D printed pharmaceutical equipment and medications.
Leading sand and metal binder jet 3D printer manufacturer ExOne and the University of Pittsburgh are working together to develop reusable metal filters that fit into plastic respirator cartridges.
A research team from the US Air Force (UAF) has successfully produced a surgical retractor using 3D printing.
3D Sierra Leone, a dutch nonprofit organization, is providing customized 3D printed prostheses to patients in the West African country, with the support of SHINING 3D, a Hangzhou-headquartered 3D scanner and printer manufacturer.
Swiss medical company Medacta officially initiated the commercial use of 3DMetal Femoral Cones for revision knee arthroplasty after successfully receiving clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CE marking.
New York-based automated post-printing developer PostProcess Technologies has announced a collaboration with Great Lakes Dental Technologies, one of North America’s largest orthodontic laboratories, to automate the company’s powder removal and surface finishing process for 3D printed dental products.
Fast Radius, a Chicago-based digital manufacturing service provider, and Axial3D, a UK-based medical technology firm, have announced a new ‘DICOM-to-print’ service for surgeons and hospitals across North America.
Hungarian 3D printer manufacturer CraftBot has announced the launch of a Rapid Local Manufacturing Centre (RLM) located in Cornwall, UK, to support the national effort in producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for key workers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Material jetting specialist XJet has announced a global partnership with dentistry leader Straumann to advance the capabilities of its AM technology for dentistry applications. The duo intends to develop the XJet Carmel 1400 system currently used at the Straumann headquarters in Basel, Switzerland to begin producing end-use ceramic parts.
Former professional boxer Mike Tyson’s business, The Ranch Companies, has obtained a global license for 3D printing edible cannabis products.
Medical device manufacturing firm Exactech is transitioning the manufacturing process of its Equinoxe Stemless Shoulder to laser based additive manufacturing.
Spanish football club FC Barcelona’s R&D lab, Barça Innovation Hub, has joined the EU-backed ‘TRIANKLE’ project to help test its upcoming 3D bioprinted cell-restoring ankle implants.
Researchers from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have developed 3D printed stents that could ease the symptoms of esophagitis in radiotherapy patients.
Japanese video game developer Konami has teamed up with the prosthetic limb designer Open Bionic, to launch a 3D printed bionic arm inspired by the Metal Gear Solid (MGS) video game character Venom Snake.
Scientists from the Skolovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have developed a novel method of 3D printing personalized ceramic bone implants.
A project led by academics at the University of Sheffield and the University of the Arts London (UAL) has received £766,675 of government funding to scale up its delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) to refugees living in Jordan’s Zaatari camp.
Stratasys enhanced its J750 printer to enable printing ultra-realistic bone models, which may be used in biomedical training and research. The printer can now mimic porous bone structures, fibrotic tissue, and ligaments so medical professionals can create models that behave just like human bone. The company has relied heavily on clinical research to enhance its product.
The Veterans Health Administration signed a contract with 3D Systems in South Carolina to build ...
In just two years, a robotic device that directly prints a patient's own skin cells on a burn or wou ...
3D printed surgical guides and virtual surgical planning (VSP) have been used in many types of surge ...
In recent years, the application of 3D printing technology has gradually developed from the initial ...
According to the WHO, 37.9 million people around the world were living with HIV at the e ...
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus: Medical. For the entire month of February, we are going to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this article, Matthew R. Jorgensen, PhD, DABT, Chemistry and Materials Scientist at Nelson Labs, explains how testing 3D printed medical devices verifies biocompatibility in an industry where safety is paramount. Nelson Labs is the leading global provider of laboratory testing and expert advisory services for MedTech and pharmaceutical companies, and Dr. Jorgensen has expertise in areas such as the fabrication of structures with micro- and nano-patterning. Upcoming articles in the AM Focus will cover the medical segment from all angles, featuring highly innovative startups and giant multinational corporations. At the end of the month all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Conformis, a medical technology company that offers patient conforming joint replacement implants, today announced the completion of the first two Conformis Hip System implants. The Conformis Hip System is the first ever 3D designed primary total hip replacement system. The first surgeries were performed by Gregory Martin, M.D., Joint Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon and founder of Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches, and took place at a leading HCA Facility, JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida on July 31, 2018.
As a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, Richard Trimlett knows a few things about the heart. He and his colleagues in the U.K. perform 35,000 heart surgeries every year on average. Trimlett typically begins an open-heart surgery by stabilizing the heart with a suction device. But a minimally invasive procedure called keyhole heart surgery is even more delicate.