News and Insights of 3D Printing and 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
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.
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.
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.
California-based medical manufacturing (or “Medifacturing”) company PrinterPrezz has signed a customer agreement with medical device company SI-BONE, Inc. to develop services for advanced 3D printed orthopedic devices and implants. The companies will leverage PrinterPrezz’s expertise in metal 3D printing, nanotechnologies and surgery to come up with next-gen medical devices.
French med tech company BIOMODEX has opened a new corporate headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts. The new facility, which will house corporate offices and a state-of-the-art 3D printing laboratory, signals BIOMODEX’s entry into the U.S. market.
It seems that cumbersome plaster casts could soon go the way of the dinosaurs thanks to new innovations in the medical field. 3D printing, for instance, is being increasingly exploited for the production of patient-specific casts and braces. ActivArmor, a producer of next-gen 3D printed medical devices, is taking its products to the next level with a partnership with LINE-X, a leader in protective coatings.