News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
A team of researchers from Duke University and Penn State, led by Julia Oh, PhD, and Ibrahim Ozbolat, PhD, is using a 3D bioprinted lung model to study how influenza and bacteria interact in human lung tissue. Funded by a $3.2 million NIH grant over four years, the project aims to uncover why some co-infections worsen illness, with experiments conducted in labs at Duke and Penn State.
Custom 3D printed models tailored to individual patients are helping surgeons remove oral cancers with greater precision, according to new research from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). In 92 percent of head and neck surgeries that used a 3D model during the operation, complete tumor removal was achieved, compared to 74 percent of surgeries performed without one. Researchers report that this approach allows for more accurate excision of malignant tissue while preserving healthy structures, potentially reducing the need for follow-up treatment.
US-based 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance broadening the approved use of its VSP Orthopedics virtual surgical planning and patient-specific instrumentation platform. The clearance now covers skeletally mature adolescents with normal bone structure, in addition to adult patients. This change removes previous regulatory constraints that limited use in adolescent cases and formally brings these procedures within the platform’s labeled indications.
Researchers at the U.S. private research universities Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and Northwestern University in Illinois have developed a method for producing small, biodegradable tubular scaffolds using 3D printing. The scaffolds feature microscopic grooves and channels designed to guide cell growth, with the goal of supporting the regeneration of functional blood vessels.
CurifyLabs, a company developing 3D printing technology for compounded medications, has launched CuraBlend Vet, a veterinary excipient system designed to produce 3D printed, palatable, and personalized medications for pets. Developed for use with the CurifyLabs Compounding System Solution (CSS), CuraBlend Vet aims to enhance quality, safety, and consistency in veterinary drug compounding.
Qase3D, a company focused on regulatory compliance and quality systems for medical 3D printing operations, has partnered with Waveland European Lawyers to introduce an MDR Management System for hospital-based Point-of-Care (PoC) 3D printing labs. The system addresses compliance with the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for facilities producing custom-made medical devices, including anatomical models, surgical guides, and patient-specific implants used in clinical settings.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has announced award recipients under its Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) program. With funding of up to $125 million, the initiative aims to develop the first complete human eye transplantation procedure, targeting restoration of vision for people who are blind or visually impaired.
3D printer OEM Stratasys has announced that its RadioMatrix radiopaque 3D printing material is now fully commercially available in the United States. Previously deployed in limited settings, the material can now be widely used by healthcare providers, medical device manufacturers, and research institutions for advanced medical imaging, education, and training purposes.
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, tablets have long been produced through standardized processes that leave little room for fine-tuning how a drug behaves once ingested. Chinese pharmaceutical technology company Triastek is challenging that model. By applying 3D printing to drug product development and manufacturing, the company is introducing a more controlled and predictable way to engineer oral medications.
MakeGood, a nonprofit focused on disability design, has unveiled the 3D Printed Toddler Mobility Trainer, an affordable, open-source device that helps children with mobility challenges develop independence, coordination, and social skills.