News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Since its inception in the 80s, 3D printing has managed to find itself in more industries and fields than we can count. One such area is urology – the medical field concerned with the urinary-tract system. A recent literature review published in BJU International covers the latest developments and accomplishments of researchers employing 3D printing to push urinary medicine past its limits.
An anaesthesia team in Israel recently used 3D printing and virtual reality to produce an exact model of the airway of a 7-year-old girl, as part of an operation to remove a section of her lung.
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.
3D printer manufacturer Admatec has announced that medical and dental professionals will now be able to use CAM Bioceramics’ medical grade ceramic materials with Admaflex DLP 3D printing systems. CAM Bioceramics’ ISO 13485:2016 certification means its ceramics are medically approved, and this includes the now commercially available hydroxyapatite slurry 3D printing material. Admatec and CAM both believe that the combination of the biocompatible and bioresorbable ceramic with DLP 3D printing’s design freedom will prove to be a powerful tool for medical centers and device manufacturers alike.
3D printer and materials manufacturer Photocentric, has been awarded a contract by the UK government to manufacture over 7.6 million 3D printed protective face shields during the next six months.
Researchers from The University of Queensland in Australia have released a study which calls for clarification around the regulation of 3D printed devices that are used in the medical industry. The research team argues that as the healthcare market in 3D printing matures, and an increasing number of products get to market, there needs to be a greater deal of clarity and cooperation between manufacturers and regulators.
REJOINT, an Italian medical implant manufacturer, is introducing mass customization and therapy personalization through a combination of additive manufacturing technology with artificial intelligence.
Researchers from the University of Manchester have developed a simple and cheap method for repairing broken limbs using 3D printed “bone brick”, in response to the need for urgent medical care in Syrian refugee camps.
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.