News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
A medical specialist from the University of Pretoria (UP) Faculty of Health Sciences has pioneered a new surgical procedure that uses 3D printed middle ear bones to treat conductive hearing loss. The innovative solution was recently demonstrated in the world’s first 3D printed middle ear transplant.
UNYQ, a company specializing in custom 3D printed medical wearables, has launched its latest product: the UNYQ Socket, a 3D printed prosthetic leg socket. The new medical device can be paired with UNYQ’s custom 3D printed prosthetic covers and integrates sensors for monitoring the wearer’s activity.
HARZ Labs is a name almost unknown in Europe, but in Russia it is a promising startup and one of the few manufacturers of materials for professional additive manufacturing.
The IDS show now underway in Cologne is ushering in a new era as 3D printing for the dental industry enters a new phase of industrialization. French 3D printer manufacturer Prodways is catering to these new demands by introducing a modular and highly automated dental aligner production solution.
The impact 3D printing is having on life-changing applications is truly something to behold. Though the technology is not yet living up to the much-hyped expectations of 3D printed organs, it is still being used in a variety of ways to innovate within the healthcare sector. Metal 3D printing, for instance, has been leveraged to produce a new drug delivery system for treating Parkinson’s disease, which could be a game changer for the degenerative disorder.
As VP of Sales Paul DiLaura revealed in our exclusive interview a few weeks ago, Carbon does work with third-party suppliers to optimize materials for its unique layerless photopolymerization technology. Mr. Di Laura could not make names at that time but one of the partners in question was Keystone Industries, a large manufacturer of consumables for dental laboratories, and its KeyPrint dental 3D printing solution
Researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW) in Australia have developed a custom 3D bioprinter dedicated specifically to treating microtia, a congenital deformity that results in an underdeveloped external ear. The bespoke bioprinter, named 3D Alek, was recently installed at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) in Sydney.
Though not broadly adopted yet, 3D printed spinal implants have the potential to change the landscape for spine-related surgeries, as they can be customized to fit the patient’s anatomy perfectly—unlike more commonly used off-the-shelf implants. However, a number of challenges still stand in the way of the broad implementation of the bespoke 3D printed implants, largely related to cost, complexity of process and standards.
South by Southwest (SXSW) kicks off next week in Austin, Texas, and there seems to be something interesting for just about everyone. Though the event might be most popular for its huge music festival, SXSW also consists of a range of conferences, covering topics from cryptocurrency to design to health and medtech. This year, 3D printing will be making an appearance at the global event, with a focus on its medical applications.
Bringing the latest 3D Printing Media Network AM Focus on Orthopedic Implants to its climax, 3dpbm hosted a new webinar focusing on the market opportunities for 3D printed implants. Market leader GE Additive and pioneering company Oxford Performance Materials presented their technological approach and business models within the context presented with a preview of data from the upcoming SmarTech Publishing report on Opportunities in 3D Orthopedics.