News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
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.
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.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is something of a mysterious disease. The demyelinating condition affects more than two million people around the globe—often with debilitating symptoms—yet has no known cure and the cause of the disease is still unknown. Recent research advances, including an effort from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S., are trying to better understand the disease in order to find a treatment solution.
In Santiago of Chile, Copper3D Inc., the company that develops antimicrobial materials for 3D printing, has partnered with Toylisto, an online platform to turn 2D drawings into 3D printable designs called “Art Toys”. Combining these two technologies, Copper3D and ToyListo developed these antimicrobial 3D printed toys, in a beautiful project that seeks to ease the emotional well-being and recovery of children suffering from complex illnesses and immunosuppression. These children are often placed in clinical isolation and thus have no access to conventional toys, which by their characteristics (porous polymers and complex geometries), harbor a high bacterial burden that can be very dangerous for their health.
Indiana-based medical device manufacturer Nexxt Spine has announced that its NEXXT MATRIXX Stand Alone Cervical System has been approved by the FDA, receiving FDA 510(k) clearance. The spinal solution is a stand-alone anterior cervical interbody fusion system manufactured using GE Additive’s Mlab 100R metal 3D printer.
The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) have announced they will be launching a new medical 3D printing clinical data registry in order to collect 3D printing data at the point of clinical care. The registry is expected to launch as a pilot program in autumn 2019 and is expected to bolster the advancement of clinical 3D printing.
Materialise is making a strategic investment in Engimplan, a Brazil-based manufacturer of orthopedic and cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) implants and instruments. The combination of Materialise’s expertise in 3D printed medical solutions with Engimplan’s innovative product portfolio will help to accelerate the introduction of 3D printed, personalized implants and instruments in the Brazilian market.
Italian 3D printing company DWS recently wrapped up its Open Factory Week event at its headquarters in Thiene. The event, which took place over the course of five days, was packed with conferences and meetings and enabled the stereolithography 3D printer manufacturer to showcase the potential of its technology in various sectors, including industrial, dental and jewelry.
UK-based medical 3D printing company axial3D has secured $3 million through a recent funding round led by London-based Imprimatur Capital Fund Management. The investment will enable axial3D to accelerate the development and adoption of its automated 3D printing solution for the medical sector, which promises to advance the standards and efficiency of surgical operations.
Scientists at ETH Zurich and the South African company Strait Access Technologies (SAT) are using 3D printing to produce custom-made artificial silicone heart valves. This could help meet an aging population’s growing demand for replacement heart valves.