News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
U.S. company creating patient-specific spinal implants Nivalon Medical Technologies has developed what it describes as the first fully patient-specific spinal implant that preserves natural motion without metal components. The device combines AI-driven design with advanced ceramic 3D printing, using a zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) structure and a flexible core to replicate spinal movement.
Researchers at Guangxi Medical University Hospital in China used 3D printing to produce custom titanium prostheses with mesh patches for five patients with distal radius giant cell tumors between 2018 and 2021. By precisely matching each patient’s anatomy, the implants improved ligament attachment, joint stability, and early wrist mobility.
Danish digital orthopedic manufacturing company Create it REAL has partnered with Monterrey-based Vitalitecs to expand access to advanced digital production technologies for orthopedic devices across Mexico. Announced in January 2026, the collaboration aims to support the local production of patient-specific orthotics, prosthetics, and medical devices using 3D printing-enabled workflows.
Open-source medical device developer Glia has produced and used an external fixator for severe fractures that is designed and manufactured inside the territory, using locally available resources.
U.S. private research university Carnegie Mellon University has received up to $28.5 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a 3D bioprinted, immune-compatible liver designed to temporarily support patients with acute liver failure, potentially reducing the need for full organ transplants and advancing regenerative medicine.
Lincotek’s Medical Division has secured FDA 510(k) clearance for its SpineLinc anterior cervical implant system, a 3D printed device manufactured in Memphis and now available to orthopedic OEMs.
The UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) is working on a federally funded research effort aimed at producing functional liver tissue using 3D printing.
A small 3D printer is now being used by clinicians at British Columbia Cancer Kelowna to create patient-specific tools for brachytherapy, enabling more accurate radiation delivery for people with cervical, vaginal, and recurrent endometrial cancers.
FUGO Precision 3D, a developer of 3D printing technology for dental manufacturing, has announced a strategic collaboration with South Korea’s Graphy, a developer of photopolymer materials for 3D printing, ahead of its official market debut at LMT Lab Day 2026 in Chicago. The partnership will integrate Graphy’s advanced photopolymer materials into FUGO’s centrifugal 3D printing platform, creating a streamlined, high-precision workflow for dental applications.
Researchers from McGill University Health Centre Research Institute (RI-MUHC) are using virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing to study whether damaged lungs could one day be repaired rather than replaced through transplantation. In one of the institute’s laboratories in Montreal, the team is using VR headsets to examine detailed digital models of lung anatomy, moving through airways to identify damaged areas and plan where 3D printed, hollow components could be used to connect healthy sections of the organ.
Researchers at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) have revealed a new wound dressing that can both monitor a wound and deliver medicine automatically when the tissue shows signs of trouble.
The Maxwell Medical Group’s Dental Flight, the dental unit at Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB) in Alabama, is enhancing support for active-duty Airmen by expanding advanced oral surgery services and adopting digital dentistry tools. These upgrades allow the clinic to handle complex procedures in-house, improving efficiency and continuity of care for service members.
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.
Italian studio Essesi Design Studio has developed Nimble, a conceptual modular prosthetic fin designed to help amputees swim more effectively. The attachable device replaces a missing foot and lower leg, combining a lightweight carbon-fiber shell with a 3D printed flexible rubber lattice that generates thrust while reducing stress on the residual limb.
Austrian medical training and innovation firms Addion and Eyecer.at have begun using 3D printer OEM Stratasys’ Digital Anatomy Solution to create 3D printed anatomical eye models for training in eyelid surgery.
A research team at Missouri University of Science and Technology has developed a light-driven 3D printing technique designed to streamline the creation of organs-on-a-chip—tiny tissue-like devices used for drug testing and medical research.
Flying at high altitudes or traveling in space exposes the human body to extreme changes in pressure, temperature, and oxygen levels—environments that traditional cell cultures fail to mimic. Scientists at Texas A&M University have developed a 3D bioprinting method to study these effects.
Treating medical emergencies in space is challenging, as immediate care is limited and returning to Earth is both costly and time-consuming. To address these constraints, a research team led by Professor Park Chan-heum from Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital has developed BioCabinet, a space biology research payload designed to produce living tissue in orbit and evaluate disease responses under microgravity conditions.
Scientists at the University of Virginia have introduced a new kind of 3D printable material that is compatible with the body’s immune system. The innovation is expected to support safer implantable devices, next-generation drug-delivery systems, and even improved solid-state batteries.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed 3D printed blood vessels on glass that replicate both the anatomy and fluid dynamics of real arteries. Published in Advanced Materials, the technology provides a new platform to study stroke mechanisms and test patient-specific medications.
US-based Boise State University researchers are developing a first-of-its-kind 3D printed device aimed at improving the accuracy of biomechanical testing in Boise, Idaho. Supported by the TRANSFORM Seed Grants Program part of the National Science Foundation’s ART award, the team plans to launch the tool commercially next year, advancing the translation of university research into real-world applications.
Researchers at Texas A&M University are developing a 3D printing approach to tackle a long-standing gap in pediatric care: the lack of safe, precisely measured drug doses for children. Led by Professor Mansoor Khan, the team is building hospital-ready technology designed to replace improvised liquid formulations with on-demand, accurately dosed tablets — a shift that is expected to improve treatment consistency and patient outcomes.
Ceramic 3D printing specialist Lithoz is using this year’s formnext to demonstrate that ceramic 3D printing has firmly entered industrial-scale production. The company’s Booth 11.1 C35 centers on real-world applications manufactured with its LCM technology across aerospace, semiconductors, medical devices and high-end consumer goods, underscoring how ceramic additive manufacturing (AM) is now being adopted in serial production environments.
Researchers at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. (ETH Zurich) have successfully 3D printed human muscle tissue in microgravity during parabolic flight experiments, marking a milestone in space-based biofabrication. The study aims to enhance disease modeling and drug development by recreating human tissues under gravity-free conditions that more accurately reflect the body’s natural architecture.
Tiger Aesthetics Medical, a division of Tiger Biosciences based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, has announced a strategic investment in GenesisTissue Inc, an early-stage biotechnology company developing personalized 3D bioprinting technologies for breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery. The startup is creating solutions for both lumpectomy and mastectomy reconstruction, as well as aesthetic applications. This collaboration extends Tiger Biosciences’ regenerative medicine initiatives and follows the 2025 launch of alloClae, a ready-to-use structural adipose tissue product for body contouring.
Researchers at University of New South Wales Canberra, a campus of the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), have developed a new type of 3D printed, biodegradable bone implant that closely mimics the internal structure of natural bone. The innovation could improve recovery for patients with fractures or bone injuries by enabling customized implants that dissolve naturally after healing, eliminating the need for additional surgery.
Researchers at the McGill University, supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have created what is being called the smallest bioprinter reported to date—just 2.7 mm wide—that can accurately deliver hydrogels to vocal cords during surgery, helping prevent post-operative stiffness and improve patients’ ability to speak. The study was published in Cell Press journal Device.
3D printing has been officially recognized as a reimbursable fabrication method for prosthetic devices under Medicare, marking a key regulatory milestone for digital manufacturing in healthcare. The decision was issued by the Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs) and the Pricing Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) contractors, which manage Medicare billing, coverage, and classification codes for DME. It extends the 2024 ruling that acknowledged additive manufacturing for orthotic devices, meaning 3D printing is now formally recognized across the entire orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) sector.
CurifyLabs, a company developing 3D printing technology for compounded medications, has released its next-generation software platform, CurifyLabs Create. The system is designed to give pharmacists greater flexibility to design and modify formulations when needed.
PROTEOR, a company specializing in prosthetic innovation and 3D printing for the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) sector, has announced a collaboration with Mariia Yelizarova, Head of Operational Excellence at TrainAI (RWS), along with One World Strong and Unbroken Ukraine. The partnership aims to expand access to prosthetic care for veterans and civilians in Ukraine who have lost limbs as a result of the ongoing war.
Researchers publishing in nonprofit organization ACS Nano have developed a 3D printable bio-active glass that could serve as an effective bone replacement material. In tests on rabbits, this material supported bone cell growth more effectively than plain glass and showed longer-term growth than a commercially available bone substitute.
Researchers at the University of Michigan and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have demonstrated how to 3D print tubular structures that block vibrations using their internal geometry. The study, published in Physical Review Applied, builds on decades of theory and computational work to create materials that passively prevent vibrations from traveling through them.
The Atlanta VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) is now the first VA facility to provide advanced 3D printed casts and splints. Using the ActivArmor system, the facility can produce orthopedic devices that are customizable, waterproof, and breathable. These devices support a wide range of services, including Orthopedics, the Emergency Room, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Podiatry, and diabetic clinics.
Amnovis, a contract manufacturer focused on 3D printed medical devices, has marked its fifth anniversary with the delivery of its 100,000th 3D printed implant.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) have developed a technique enabling dentists to 3D print permanent zirconia crowns and other restorations within hours instead of days.
A new research group at the University of Stuttgart is working on a study that involves 3D printing tissue directly inside the human body.
Scientists in Switzerland have begun developing artificial corneas using 3D printing technology, in a project that could eventually help repair eye damage and restore vision for people affected by corneal disease or injury.
ChoiceSpine, a provider of specialized spine surgery systems, has announced an expansion of its TigerShark Lateral Interbody System. Developed in collaboration with Stuart D. Kinsella, MD, MSTR of The Steadman Clinic, the updated implant line introduces new sizes designed to better match a variety of patient anatomies.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), from both the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) and the College of Engineering, are creating a 3D printed lung model that could transform how respiratory diseases are studied and treated. By combining engineering and biology, the team aims to replicate the complexity of human lungs more accurately than traditional lab or animal models, opening the door to personalized therapies and future organ regeneration.
3D printing is redefining dentistry, bringing precision, speed, and accessibility that traditional methods can’t match. From cutting patient visits to addressing the global shortage of dental technicians, digital manufacturing is reshaping how dentures are made and delivered.
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At the Czech Republic–based Masaryk University Faculty of Medicine, the Simulation Centre (SIMU) has launched www.printanatomy.eu, a free portal offering 3D models of bones, organs, and simulators for teaching and clinical training.
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Researchers at MIT and the Polytechnic University of Milan have developed a low-cost, AI-driven monitoring platform for 3D bioprinting that improves tissue reproducibility, reduces material waste, and lays the foundation for intelligent, automated fabrication of complex biological structures.
U.S.-based medical device company Airway Management has received FDA clearance for the Nylon flexTAP, described as the world’s first digitally printed single-point midline oral appliance for sleep apnea. The device, manufactured in the U.S., combines the company’s patented Vertex Technology with a design intended for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). By using digital printing, the Nylon flexTAP enables a custom fit without requiring bite registration, which can simplify the fitting process for clinicians and patients.
Irish orthopedic manufacturing specialist Croom Medical has introduced Biofuse, a 3D printed porous ingrowth technology for orthopedic implants. Developed using laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing, the platform allows OEMs to integrate lattice structures directly into implant geometries, in line with ASTM F1854 standards.
Dr. Mansoor Khan, researcher of Texas A&M University is advancing the use of 3D printing to produce medications tailored for children, addressing long-standing challenges in pediatric dosing. By creating dose-flexible tablets, his approach ensures that children receive the exact amount of medication required for their age and weight, eliminating the need for pharmacists to manipulate adult pills, a process that can result in imprecise dosages.
Children’s Nebraska, the state’s only free-standing pediatric hospital, recently used 3D printing to produce a custom superhero action figure for a five-year-old cancer patient. The Omaha-based non-profit operates 231 beds and more than 50 specialty clinics, providing care for children from Nebraska, western Iowa, South Dakota, northern Kansas, and northwestern Missouri.
Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have successfully 3D bioprinted miniature placentas, opening a new path for investigating pregnancy complications. The study, published in Nature Communications and led by Associate Professor Lana McClements with first author Dr Claire Richards, highlights the potential of this technology in addressing conditions such as preeclampsia, which affects 5–8% of pregnancies and contributes to global maternal and infant mortality.
Anatomy Warehouse, a supplier of anatomical teaching resources, has entered an exclusive partnership with Germany-based Erler-Zimmer to introduce advanced 3D printed anatomical models to classrooms and training centers across the U.S. Created with Monash University in Australia and produced in Germany, the Erler-Zimmer 3D Anatomy Series is transforming access to realistic, high-quality anatomy tools for students and educators.
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Tissium, a Paris-based medical technology company founded on MIT research, has secured De Novo marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its non-traumatic peripheral nerve repair platform. The clearance enables commercialization of its first product, which uses a flexible, biocompatible polymer that bonds to wet tissue when activated by blue light. In a recent clinical trial of 12 patients, all of whom completed follow-up, regained full flexion and extension of their injured digits, and reported no pain 12 months after surgery.
Researchers are advancing lab-grown skin substitutes that could reshape treatment for burns and chronic wounds. A comprehensive overview of this progress, published in Nature Outlook: Skin, highlights how multilayer grafts are moving closer to clinical use. In 2023, Anthony Atala at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, reported a printed three-layer graft that included pigment cells, vasculature, and hair follicles. In pigs, these grafts successfully merged with host tissue. “Why don’t we engineer skin that is full thickness, so you can actually use that as a permanent graft — just like you would a patient’s own graft?” Atala asks.
A research team from the Swiss university ETH Zurich and the University Hospital of Zurich, led by Professors Robert Katzschmann and Omer Dzemali, has created a new 3D heart patch intended for implantation inside the heart. Published recently in Advanced Materials, the “RCPatch” is designed not only to close heart defects but also to support tissue regeneration.
Medical technology company Cairn Surgical has secured ISO 13485:2016 certification for its Quality Management System for the Breast Cancer Locator (BCL) System, enabling the company to advance scaled production and accelerate broader commercialization efforts.
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A 3D printed patch designed to promote heart muscle regeneration is being developed by a bioengineering professor at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). This project aims to address a critical medical challenge by offering a potential new treatment option for heart attack survivors, whose damaged heart tissue currently lacks the ability to repair itself—often leading to serious, long-term health complications.
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U.S.-based 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems, in partnership with French MedTech firm TISSIUM, has secured FDA approval for a bioabsorbable, 3D printed device designed to treat peripheral nerve damage. This approval validates the polymer’s clinical effectiveness and paves the way for its use across a wide range of medical treatments.
The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) and the University of Hawaii System recently formalized a collaborative initiative to enhance warfighter survivability and effectiveness. This partnership, strategically focused on leveraging biomaterials and advanced manufacturing capabilities, aims to strengthen defense efforts, particularly in support of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, which is headquartered in Hawaii.
US-based biotechnology company Continuity Biosciences has invested in 3D printed microneedle technology specialist PinPrint to expand its focus from therapeutic delivery into aesthetic and cosmetic applications.
French medical device company PROTEOR has acquired Filament Innovations, a company specializing in 3D printing technologies for the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) industry. The acquisition broadens PROTEOR’s digital solutions portfolio to include scanning, rectification, and 3D printing tools, supporting the development of customized medical device solutions.
Triastek, a Chinese 3D printing pharmaceutical company, has announced that its proprietary 3D printed non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), T20G, has received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as of February 27, 2025. This regulatory achievement follows an earlier IND approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in January 2024.
Axtra3D, a developer of high-speed stereolithography (SLA) systems, has introduced four new dental resins, expanding its portfolio of validated materials for the Lumia X1 printer. The new additions—NextDent Model Sand, Pro3dure Splint 19.1 AO/MSI, Pro3dure Denture 14.2, and Pro3dure Crown & Bridge—are now available with optimized print profiles, aimed at increasing accuracy and production efficiency for digitally manufactured dental models, splints, dentures, and restorations.
A group of Chinese researchers have developed a novel approach for addressing erectile dysfunction (ED) using biomedical 3D printing.
At IDS 2025, Carbon, a U.S.-based developer of CLIP 3D printing, will showcase its latest advancements in automation, material technology, and workflow optimization, all designed to enhance the efficiency of dental labs. The company will introduce new features in its Automatic Operation (AO) Suite and unveil Lucentra, a solution for clear aligner production. These innovations aim to improve productivity and support scalable production in the dental industry.
Researchers at RWTH Aachen University’s Chair Digital Additive Production (DAP), working with the reACT alliance, are developing bioresorbable implants designed to fit each patient’s needs.
Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a manufacturer of polymer 3D printing solutions, and Siemens Healthineers, a global provider of medical imaging technology, have introduced patient-specific 3D printed phantoms designed to enhance computed tomography (CT) imaging. Research presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting demonstrates the accuracy of these models, which replicate human anatomy with high precision.
Researchers at Pusan National University (PNU) have developed a way to 3D print fat tissue that could speed up wound healing, offering potential relief for patients with chronic injuries and burns.
Lincotek’s Medical Division has secured a patent for a 3D printed screw designed to enhance bone ingrowth and offer greater customization for orthopedic procedures.
CAD-Ray, a provider of digital dentistry solutions with over 100 years of experience in dental scanning and milling, and Zylo3D, a company founded in 2023 specializing in automated, all-in-one chairside 3D printing, have partnered to offer a comprehensive dental 3D printing solution. This new solution integrates Zylo3D’s AI-driven software with CAD-Ray’s focus on affordability.
Chinese drug 3D printing firm Triastek has announced that its 3D printed drug product, D23, Budesonide Ileum Targeted Tablets for the treatment of IgAN (Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy)—a kidney disorder characterized by the buildup of immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits in the kidneys—has demonstrated favorable results in a recent clinical study.
MB Therapeutics, a Montpellier-based startup with over 8 years of expertise in pharmaceutical 3D printing, has secured €2 million in seed funding to develop the first pharmaceutical facility designed to provide 3D printing compatible solutions for pharmacies. This facility will help pharmacies produce personalized medicines on-site, improving precision and meeting the growing demand for individualized treatments. The funding will also enable the launch of three high-demand medicines and prepare the company for a Series A funding round in 2026.
In the battle against herpes simplex virus (HSV), 3D printing technology is offering a new approach to drug development by creating models of human skin. Current antiviral drugs often fall short because they cannot replicate the complexity of human tissue. To address this, Dr. Jia Zhu from the Fred Hutch Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, alongside biofabrication experts Dr. Ian Hayman and Dr. Tori Ellison, is using 3D printing to develop these models, enhancing the precision of virus studies.
US-based 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has introduced its latest developments in dental 3D printing at LMT Lab Day 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
Katie Weimer, former Vice President of Regenerative Medicine 3D Systems’ has launched GenesisTissue Inc., a biotechnology research startup.
Auxilium Biotechnologies, a San Diego medtech startup, is 3D printing medical devices in space. The company uses a DLP-based bioprinter called the Auxilium Microfabrication Platform (AMP-1) to create biomimetic devices for nerve injuries. A recent deployment of the AMP-1 to the International Space Station (ISS) resulted in a successful test, described by Auxilium CEO Jacob Koffler as “a landmark achievement for space biomanufacturing.”
VOXELTEK, a Hungary-based developer of 3D printing technologies for dentistry, has introduced a system allowing dentists to complete treatments within a single visit. Combining the VOXEL.IOS scanner, the MARK IV 3D printer, and the VOXELTEK.live platform, this system integrates scanning, design, and printing to create dental applications in under an hour.
Stratasys, a leading provider of 3D printing solutions, has received CE Mark Class I approval for its TrueDent-D resin, enabling the sale of its monolithic multi-shade digital denture solution across Europe. Following its successful U.S. launch in 2023, this milestone allows the company to bring a scalable and efficient solution to European dental labs, dentists, and patients.
German medical startup BellaSeno has shared promising results from its Australian clinical trials leveraging resorbable breast implants.
Eric Bennett, CEO of Frontier Bio, told us more about 3D printing in regenerative medicine and the development of lab-grown human tissues, aiming to ultimately eliminate the organ transplant waitlist. Frontier Bio’s groundbreaking applications, such as their “brain on a chip” technology, provide humane and highly relevant alternatives to animal studies in traumatic brain injury (TBI) research, with future potential for drug discovery in conditions like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Ahead of this year’s 3DPI Awards, Stijn Hanssen Director of Application Development for Dental at 3D Systems, told us more about developing the industry’s first monolithic jetted denture solution, transforming how dentures are fabricated and delivered. This innovation combines multiple materials in a single print, mimicking the properties of natural teeth and gums to create durable, aesthetically superior, and comfortable prosthetics. Leveraging 3D Systems’ MultiJet printing technology, comprehensive workflow solutions, and decades of expertise in dental materials, this solution streamlines production for high-volume dental labs, reducing complexity, cost, and patient wait times. Collaborations with dental professionals have been integral to refining this technology, resulting in a product that enhances patient outcomes with precise fits, shorter workflows, and exceptional long-term comfort.
Xinfu Xie, Co-founder, and Chief Product Officer at Chitubox, provides more detail on dental 3D printing workflows with CHITUBOX Dental, a cutting-edge pre-processing software tailored specifically for the dental industry. Supporting over 160 models of light-curing 3D printers, the software streamlines complex processes with one-click automation for common dental applications, significantly enhancing efficiency and precision. Designed to address critical challenges in cost, accessibility, and accuracy, CHITUBOX Dental enables clinics and factories to produce high-quality dental models using consumer-grade printers, reducing expenses while improving patient outcomes. Backed by years of expertise in light-curing technology and collaborations with dental professionals, Xie and his team are driving a new era of efficiency and precision in digital dentistry.
Skyphos Industries, led by CEO & CTO Elliot McAllister, is redefining the 3D printing landscape with its Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) model tailored to the micro-DLP (µ3DLP) market. By vertically integrating printer development, material fabrication, and software innovation, Skyphos offers a seamless solution for producing high-tolerance microfluidic (µF) and Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices. Unlike traditional lithography or mold-based methods, Skyphos bridges the gap between prototyping and scalable manufacturing with technologies such as patented adjustable pixel range (5–20 µm), dynamic layer-height control, and multi-wavelength curing. These innovations enable precision at speed, allowing for enclosed channels as small as 20 µm and compatibility with engineering-grade resins.
The 3D Printing Industry Awards are designed to highlight both established applications of additive manufacturing and the next generation of AM. Our profiles of this year’s nominees for the 2024 3DPI Awards continue with a look at FIDENTIS, selected by our panel of experts, and the pubic nomination process for the shortlist in the 3D Printing Industry Awards Start of the Year.
Researchers at New York University (NYU) have engineered a 3D printed model that recreates the nutrient-deprived conditions fostering cancer spread, or metastasis. Published in Life Science Alliance, this breakthrough model enables the direct observation of metastatic behavior in real-time, providing researchers with unprecedented insights into a critical stage in cancer progression often hidden in live patients and traditional models.
Vinmec Times City International Hospital achieved a major milestone in Southeast Asia on September 11th, 2024, with the region’s first chest wall reconstruction using a 3D printed titanium implant.
Qwadra, the digital division of Eqwal and a global provider of digital solutions in the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) sector, has formed a strategic partnership with Denmark-based Create it REAL, known for its advanced 3D printing technologies. The collaboration involves incorporating Create it REAL’s multi-patented Programmable Foam technology into Qwadra’s Sona Flex and Sona Edge 3D printers. This integration is expected to enable healthcare professionals to produce custom orthopedic devices with greater precision, speed, and material efficiency.
3D printing solutions provider LuxCreo has partnered with oral appliance specialist EMA Sleep to introduce a 3D printed medical device which treats Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Ricoh USA, Inc., a leader in 3D printing solutions for the healthcare industry, has entered a strategic partnership with Insight Surgery, a specialist in personalized surgical planning and guide production. the collaboration seeks to introduce patient-specific surgical guides for pediatric and adult orthopedic and maxillofacial surgeries, enhancing surgical precision and improving patient outcomes across U.S. medical facilities.
US-based 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its multi-material, 3D printed denture offering.
Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) have developed an AI-guided 3D printing process capable of producing highly detailed replicas of human organs. The new technique is aimed at allowing surgeons to rehearse complex procedures, providing more accurate and patient-specific practice.
Biotechnology research company Frontier Bio has reported progress in developing lab-grown lung tissue, achieved by integrating bioprinting with the natural self-organizing properties of stem cells.
Nvision Biomedical Technologies, a San Antonio-based medical device and implant manufacturer, in collaboration with Invibio Biomaterial Solutions, a global leader in high-performance biomaterials, has received FDA clearance for the first 3D-printed porous PEEK Interbody System. The system uses Invibio’s PEEK-OPTIMA™ polymer and the proprietary Bond3D additive manufacturing process. Nvision specializes in creating innovative medical solutions that enhance surgical procedures, while Invibio, part of the Victrex plc group, provides advanced polymer solutions used in over 15 million medical implants.
Amnovis, an additive manufacturing production and engineering company based in Belgium, has delivered over 50,000 3D printed medical implants since 2021.
US-based 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its 3D printed Total Ankle pre-surgical planning and instrument set.
Finland-based bioprinting firm Brinter AM Technologies Oy has announced that it will launch its Brinter Core 3D bioprinter to the International Space Station (ISS).
Formlabs Dental, the dental business unit of Resin 3D printer manufacturer Formlabs, has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Premium Teeth Resin.
A step forward in medical technology was achieved with the successful implantation of the first 3D printed ceramic subperiosteal jaw implant at Kepler University Hospital. The procedure is part of the INKplant project, an EU-funded initiative involving 19 interdisciplinary partners. Developed by Austrian ceramic 3D printing specialist Lithoz and led by Profactor GmbH, the 3D printed dental implant targets patients suffering from severe jaw atrophy—a condition where the loss of teeth leads to significant bone deterioration, making traditional dentures or implants untenable.
Join the Expert Committee for the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards to help select the winners!
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Digital services company Ricoh USA has launched the RCOH 3D for Healthcare Innovation Studio, its new point-of-care additive manufacturing facility.
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Israeli electronics 3D printer manufacturer Nano Dimension has produced a micro-3D printed medical device to record the neuronal activity of mice for a new biomedical research project.
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Biomedical 3D printing firm ArcomedLab has reportedly established the world’s largest case list of 3D printed craniomaxillofacial implants.
3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has secured FDA 510K clearance for its 3D printed, patient-specific VSP polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Cranial Implant solution.
3D printer manufacturer WASP will showcase two of its industrial 3D printers at the 2024 Exposanità international healthcare exhibition.
Researchers from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have developed realistic 3D printed heart and lung models that can bleed, beat and breathe like their real counterparts.
A recent collaboration between researchers at the University of Oregon (UO) and L’Oréal has resulted in the development of a multilayered artificial skin model, designed to resemble the complexity of real human skin closely.
Ceramic tools show their potential where metal devices start to fail, with ceramics increasingly becoming the material of choice in many medical tools. Not only are they extremely heat and wear-resistant, they are also perfectly biocompatible and can be easily sterilized.
North Carolina-based medical 3D printing startup Phase has secured a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance its work in 3D printing technology for microfluidic organ-on-a-chip models.
Following the success of a breakthrough eye transplant, Belgian 3D printing company Materialise has introduced its latest solution to treat patients requiring total temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroplasty.
US-based 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has launched its new multi-material 3D printed denture offering. This is being advertised as the industry’s first solution for multi-material, jetted, and monolithic (one-piece) 3D printed dentures.
Desktop Health, the healthcare business unit of Massachusetts-based industrial 3D printer manufacturer Desktop Metal (DM) has announced a new formulation of its Flexcera resin for 3D printing gingiva.
Following its partnership with Airbus, metal AM company AddUp has collaborated with medical device startup Anatomic Implants to submit a 510(K) application for what the company claims to be the world’s first 3D printed toe joint replacement.
Austrian ceramic 3D printing company Lithoz will present the next development stage of its lithium disilicate material for dental 3D printing at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2024.
Chinese drug 3D printing firm Triastek has announced that its T22 3D printed gastric retention product has become the first drug of its kind to receive Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
UK-based robotics company Open Bionics has announced that its 3D printed finger device has been adopted for the first time by a hand amputee from London.
Edinburgh-based tumor 3D printing specialists Carcinotech has successfully raised £4.2 million in an investment round led by Eos Advisory (Eos) and the Investment Fund for Scotland (IFS).
Medical equipment manufacturer Kallisio has announced the FDA 510(k) clearance for its Stentra, a 3D printed oral stent tailored for Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiation therapy.
3D printer manufacturer Stratasys has announced that its J5 MediJet 3D printer is being used by the University Hospital Birmingham (UHB) to 3D print tailored cutting guides used in craniomaxillofacial tumor surgery.
Metal 3D printing technology from Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) has played a key role in the production of the world’s first flexible robotic system for minimally invasive brain surgery.
After securing a £612,176 grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Aston University is set to integrate a Quantum X bio 3D printer into its research facilities.
3D printer manufacturer Stratasys has partnered with Siemens Healthineers to conduct a research project focused on advancing medical imaging phantoms used in computed tomography (CT) imaging proving to be a vital tool in hospitals globally.
Chinese medical firm Wedo Bio-Medical Technology Co, Ltd. has announced that its new 3D printed spinal implant has successfully received market approval in China.
Belgian 3D printing company Materialise has played a crucial role in the success of the breakthrough first-ever eye transplant.
Voting closes soon in the 3D Printing Industry Awards 2023. Have your say now!
South Dakota-based resin 3D printer manufacturer B9Creations has announced the limited release of its new dental 3D printers and materials, dubbed B9 Dent XL 3D printer and the upcoming B9 Dent Lab, along with a range of specialized resins.
Pharmaceutical customization technology developer CurifyLabs has launched Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) developed Pharma Inks for on-site production of patient-tailored and personalized medicines in pharmacies and hospitals.
Voting has now started for the 2023 3D Printing Industry Awards. Cast your vote now!
Chicago-based biofabrication firm Dimension Inx has announced that CMFlex, its FDA-approved 3D printed regenerative bone graft product, has been used in its first two clinical cases.
Pharmaceutical start-up MB-Therapeutics is using its MED-U Modular 3D printer to offer personalized on-demand treatment to patients.
Carcinotech and 3D bioprinting firm CELLINK have announced a partnership to accelerate cancer drug development with 3D bioprinted tumor models.
India is home to nearly one and a half billion people, a vast potential market for 3D printed healthcare applications.
3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has entered into a partnership with radiotherapy accessory manufacturer Klarity to expand the distribution of its patient-specific 3D printed FDA-cleared Virtual Surgical Planning or VSP Bolus radiotherapy solution.
Taiwanese 3D printing company Ackuretta has launched its next-generation UV curing oven for dental 3D printing, dubbed CURIE Plus.
Nominate now for the 3D Printing Industry Awards 2023.
Hyderabad-based Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) researchers have unveiled a novel approach to detect and monitor diabetes.
Nominations are now open for the 3D Printing Industry Awards 2023. Who are the leaders in 3D printing? Find out on November 30th when the winners across twenty categories will be announced during a London-based live awards ceremony.
Nominations are now open for the 3D Printing Industry Awards 2023. Who are the leaders in 3D printing? Find out on November 30th when the winners across twenty categories will be announced during a London-based live awards ceremony.
Microscale 3D printer manufacturer Boston Micro Fabrication is making its debut in the dental sector by launching UltraThineer, the “world’s thinnest cosmetic dental veneer.” This news follows right after the company secured $24 million in series D funding to advance micro-scale additive manufacturing.
Chinese drug 3D printing firm Triastek has concluded its First-in-Human (FIH) study of its new 3D printing drug, dubbed T21. This drug is designed to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC).
Austrian ceramic 3D printing company Lithoz and New York-based biomaterials specialist Himed have announced a long-term partnership to drive innovation in the 3D printing of medical-grade bioceramics.
Amnovis, an additive manufacturing production and engineering company based in Belgium, has produced a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Master File.
BiologIC Technologies, the UK based biotechnology company behind the 3D printed ‘lab-on-a-chip’ platform, has received funding from Innovate UK. This financial support has allowed the company to accelerate the development and manufacture of cheaper drugs and vaccines.
3D BioFibR, a Canadian tissue engineering company, is launching two new collagen fiber products, μCollaFibR and CollaFibR 3D scaffold, to enhance 3D bioprinting.
Four companies in the medical device manufacturing industry namely EOS, Precision ADM, Orthopaedic Innovation Centre (OIC), and Tecomet, have announced a partnership. This alliance will provide an end-to-end solution for medical device additive manufacturing.
Colorado-based med-tech company Mighty Oak Medical has announced a partnership with HP. This partnership will see Mighty Oak Medical using HPs Jet Fusion 5200 3D printers to develop 3D printed healthcare applications.
Since they launched last year, HP’s latest Jet Fusion 5420W and Metal Jet S100 systems have significantly expanded the medical 3D printing potential of its portfolio.
Stratasys and CollPlant have announced plans to “transform healthcare with industrial scale bioprinting of tissues and organs.” To establish a method for bio-fabricating human tissues and organs utilizing CollPlant Biotechnologies’ rh-Collagen-based bioinks and Stratasys Ltd’s P3 technology-based bioprinter, the two companies have signed a cooperative development and commercialization agreement. The first project focuses on making a solution for CollPlant’s program for regenerative breast implants that can be used on an industrial scale.
In a medical 3D printing breakthrough, the first US surgeries featuring a revolutionary spinal implant made from Evonik‘s VESTAKEEP® i4 3DF PEEK filament biomaterial were conducted earlier this month. Developed by Curiteva, a US-based technology firm, the implant has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and is the first-ever 3D printed, fully interconnected porous polyether ether ketone (PEEK) implant of its kind for commercial use.
Scientists at the University of Swansea are developing a 3D printed vegan nose for those requiring artificial nose transplants, the Daily Mail has reported. This process offers a sustainable and personalizable option for patients, utilizing plant based materials and human cells to 3D print artificial nose cartilage.
3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has announced the NextDent Base and NextDent Cast 3D printing materials for dental applications, along with the new NextDent LCD1 printing platform.
Following the adoption of a new 3D printer by Stratasys‘ partner reseller Cylaos, the Regional University Hospital of Brest (CHU de Brest) is seeing significant improvements in pre-surgical planning procedures.
Carbon, a leading 3D printing technology business, has a new production option to 3D print clear aligners for the dental 3D printing sector.
3D Systems, a leading U.S. additive manufacturing company, has announced plans for a Regenerative Tissue Program (RPT). The strategic initiative aims to develop and commercialize bioprinted human tissue, building upon 3D Systems expertise in Healthcare from in-house products such as Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) and recent acquisitions, including the $400M purchase of Volumetric Biotechnologies.
Medical device supplier rms company has added a 3D Systems DMP Flex 350 Dual 3D printer to the more than 30-machine-strong print farm at its 3D printing complex.
Prosthetic 3D printing specialist Open Bionics has delivered bionic arms to a facility in Germany where injured Ukrainian soldiers are being treated for landmine injuries.
The UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has awarded a team at the University of Nottingham £6 million to develop a toolkit that helps get 3D printing into the country’s hospitals and surgeries.
Biopharmaceutical equipment supplier Sartorius has acquired a 10% stake in 3D bioprinting innovator BICO.
Researchers at the USA’s National Eye Institute (NEI) have developed a way of 3D bioprinting eye tissues using patient stem cells.
Regenerative medicine specialist CollPlant has announced that its proprietary 3D bioprinted breast implants have successfully passed animal testing.
High-resolution micro-scale 3D printing company UpNano GmbH has announced the development of UpFlow, a photopolymerizing material.
3D printer manufacturer Stratasys and 3Shape, Denmark-based 3D scanning and software company announced a new color workflow for automated 3D printing employing 3Shape’s Dental System software and the Stratasys J5 DentaJet 3D printer.
The votes for our annual awards ceremony are now in! Watch the 2022 3D Printing Industry Awards replay to find out this year’s winners.
This year the 3D Printing Industry Awards will use money raised from our annual event to make a donation to charity. Ahead of the live event next week, I asked Merel van der Stelt from 3D Sierra Leone to tell us more about how the project works and how 3D printing can be used to change lives in the West African country.
The 3D Printing Industry Awards 2022 shortlists are now available for voting. Who will win the 2022 3DPI Awards? Have your say by casting your vote now.
The 3D Printing Industry Awards 2022 shortlists are now available for voting. Who will win the 2022 3DPI Awards? Have your say by casting your vote now.
Clear aligners continue to increase in demand and 3D printing has proven to be an ideal technology to produce these mass-customized devices. Silicon Valley-based Carbon has made clear aligners one of its top priorities for expansion in the European market by offering the most seamless solution to produce them at scale using its L1 production solution optimized for clear aligner models. As a Sales Director for dental aligner solutions in Europe, Lea McGurk, has been tasked with helping dental laboratories across Europe understand the benefits of turning to Carbon’s turnkey, the subscription-based business model for their clear aligner production requirements. In this exclusive interview, we dig a little deeper into how Carbon makes it possible to go from one printer to a fleet of printers.
Med-tech startup Axial3D has announced the closing of a $15 million investment round led by a strategic investment of $10 million from Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a leader in polymer 3D printing solutions. This is Stratasys’ first investment in Axial3D. The two companies also will be providing a joint offering to make patient-specific 3D printing solutions for hospitals and medical device manufacturers more accessible so it becomes a mainstream healthcare solution.
Carbon’s developmental bioabsorbable elastomer platform has demonstrated biocompatibility in vivo, with all samples being designated as non-toxic and exhibiting tunable times for full absorption. This latest milestone indicates the elastomer’s potential future development in biomedical lattice applications such as soft tissue repair, wound dressings, and nerve conduits.
Lincotek, a leader in the production of metal medical devices via additive manufacturing, reported it has produced over 800,000 medical devices since the company started working with Additive Manufacturing in 2006. In recent years, the count has topped over 100,000 3D printed parts per year, with best-in-class yield rates, material consumption and per-unit costs.
Scientists from the Ural Federal University (UrFU) and the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences are determining the optimal conditions for 3D printing permanent magnets from hard magnetic compounds based on rare-earth metals. This will make it possible to start small-scale production of magnets, in any shape, and create complex magnet configurations. Such magnets are suitable for miniature electric motors and electric generators, on which pacemakers work. In addition to this, as is typical of AM, the technology minimizes production waste and has a shorter production cycle. A description of the method and experimental results are presented in the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials.
SprintRay Inc., an industry leader in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, has launched OnX Tough, a next-generation hybrid ceramic resin designed for 3D printing dental applications. Leveraging SprintRay’s proprietary NanoFusion technology, this new resin delivers durability and lifelike translucency for high-quality, same-day dental prosthetics.
Over the past few decades, there has been a growing focus in the healthcare industry on achieving better patient outcomes. This emphasis is increasing the popularity of personalized medical devices, which are designed to match the anatomy or physiology of each patient.
By adding process enhancements to its AM contract manufacturing workflow, Amnovis has expanded its potential for patient-specific and standard medical device innovation.
3D LifePrints, a UK-based medical 3D printing specialist, has received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for their EmbedMed personalized surgery platform.
Psyonic has developed a Bionic Hand using Formlabs’ additive manufacturing technology.
It may seem unexpected for breakthroughs in CT scanning technology to come from a dental laboratory. But foresight is exactly what California-based Glidewell dental lab is known for. In a manufacturing field that requires as much volume as it does precision, the dental lab has developed scanners that strike the right balance of affordability, speed, size and precision, allowing them to scale up at any time as the market demands without taking on financial risk. But why would a dental lab need computed tomography to optimize their production? At the beginning of the Industry 4.0 Revolution, Glidewell, the largest privately-owned dental laboratory in the U.S., initiated a unique workflow in which every case order submitted by dentists gets digitized via CT scanner and then perfected in a virtual environment. This proprietary system allows the production floor to churn out accurate dental products with fewer errors at a faster rate while applying AI-powered design software for greater precision and esthetics. However, they ran into a crucial problem: Finding a commercial CT scanner that could keep up with their high-volume workload. Glidewell’s digital workflow necessitated modern technology in a field dominated by an artisan-like workforce of technicians and designers. Their initial exploration in digital scanning started with optical scanners. But the optical scanners could not capture the finer details present in dental impressions, nor could they reliably capture the angles and curves of natural dentition. This made it difficult to consistently fabricate accurate products that were fit for consumer acceptance. Glidewell then tested multiple commercial scanners in order to find one that could meet their needs. But their experience with conventional industry scanners was one in the same: Breakdown after breakdown due to the constant cycling, expensive technology that stretched out their budget, and little room to scale up with the growing pace of the industry. “The vast majority of available scanners were intended for university and research institutes, not use in a manufacturing environment,” said Glidewell Senior Vice President of Engineering, David Leeson. “Because of this, in addition to the available machinery being expensive to procure, it was also expensive to operate.”
Nominations for the 2022 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open. Who do you think should make the shortlists for this year’s show? Let us know by casting your vote now.
Nominations for the 2022 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open. Who do you think should make the shortlists for this year’s ballot? Let us know by making your nomination now.
Desktop Health, a healthcare business within Desktop Metal Inc, committed to developing 3D printing solutions for personalized medicine, has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the company’s SmileGuard resin – a breakthrough light-curable, biocompatible material for the fabrication of strong and flexible bite splints and other orthodontic and dental appliances.
3D LifePrints, a leading provider of personalized surgery that has supplied thousands of patient-specific devices in the UK and Europe, and more recently in the US, has received FDA 510(k) clearance for the company’s cranio-maxillofacial products and services, which are included in the EmbedMed platform. This clearance follows the company’s ISO 13485 medical certification in 2021.
Californian pediatric healthcare specialist Rady Children’s Hospital has launched a new Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standardization software.
Regenerative medicine specialist CTIBiotech has partnered with pharmaceutical firm Gattefossé to develop 3D bioprinted skin chips that enable the patient-specific modeling of skin diseases.
Nexa3D, the maker of ultrafast polymer 3D printers for industrial and dental applications, has released the NXD 200Pro – its new Professional Series upgrade for its NXD 200 dental 3D printer. Based on Nexa3D’s ultrafast LSPc technology, the Pro Series delivers higher productivity and model accuracy with greater print success. The Pro Series opens the materials aperture to accommodate a broader range of dental materials, including KeyOrtho IBT and KeySplint Hard, both manufactured by Keystone Industries.
Researchers at Stanford University have used 3D printing to develop a strain sensor that enables the wireless monitoring of tumor regression in cancer patients.
Oxford Performance Materials (OPM), an industry leader in advanced polymer science, 3D printed orthopedic devices, and coating technologies, is assisting Orthopedic Help for Ukraine (OHFU) – a non-profit addressing the needs of orthopedic and surgery departments of Ukrainian hospitals – by manufacturing and delivering 3D printed custom implants, along with suture anchors with instrument sets, to front line hospitals treating people injured in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Researchers at Khalifa University have come up with a set of 3D printed glasses that could be capable of curing Color Vision Deficiency (CVD) disorders.
Desktop Health, a healthcare business within Desktop Metal committed to developing 3D printing solutions for personalized medicine, and Keystone Industries, a dental manufacturer of biocompatible, cutting-edge, patented photopolymer resins, have partnered to make a broad range of Keystone 3D printing dental resins available on Desktop Health’s Einstein printer, beginning with KeySplint Soft.
US 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has announced the formation of a new 3D bioprinting subsidiary.
Dr. Kuldeep Agarwal a professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU), Department of Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering Technology, has partnered with Additive Technologies (AddiTec), a founding partner of Meltio, an additive manufacturing company pioneering the development of affordable metal 3D printing systems, to develop new ways to produce biocompatible bone implants with improved properties.
CollPlant, a regenerative and aesthetics medicine company developing innovative technologies and products for tissue regeneration and organ manufacturing, has initiated a study in large animals for its 3D bioprinted regenerative breast implant program – addressing the reported $2.8 billion global breast implant market.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a method of 3D printing microscale ice structures that can be used as sacrificial templates to form intricate channels inside other parts.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a high-speed, reproducible fabrication method that turns the 3D printing process “inside out.” They developed an approach to 3D print ice structures that can be used to create sacrificial templates that later form the conduits and other open features inside fabricated parts.
CELLINK, a global leader in developing 3D bioprinters, and The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) are partnering to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for 3D bioprinting in Bengaluru, India. The CoE, the first of its kind in the sub-continent, will be housed in the Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering (BSSE) at IISc. The CoE will provide access to 3D bioprinting systems, enabling researchers to accelerate their work across critical applications with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes.
3D Systems has appointed Dr. Toby Cosgrove, former president and chief executive officer of the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Bon Ku, director of the Health Design Lab at Thomas Jefferson University, as the fourth and fifth members of the company’s recently established Medical Advisory Board (MAB). Dr. Cosgrove and Dr. Ku will join former Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Dr. Stephen K. Klasko, and former US Secretary of Veterans Affairs David J. Shulkin as members of the advisory board. The Board’s primary mission is to provide strategic input, guidance, and recommendations for the company’s expanding efforts in regenerative medicine.
German medical device manufacturer BellaSeno has announced that its proprietary 3D printed breast implants have entered human trials.
A cornea 3D printed at India’s L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad and Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology has been successfully animal tested for the first time.
Maritime non-profit Island Missions Support has begun using a Slice Engineering hotend to produce more robust 3D printed prosthetics for amputees in isolated areas of Guatemala.
Prellis Biologics, a biotherapeutics company utilizing its proprietary, high-resolution bioprinting technology to recreate and engineer human tissues in vitro, has appointed Michael Nohaile, PhD as its new CEO, and has raised a $35 million Series C funding round, co-led by Celesta Capital and Avidity Partners with participation from Khosla Ventures, SOSV, True Ventures, and Lucas Venture Group. Dr. Michael Nohaile joins the company from Generate Biomedicines and succeeds Prellis Biologics founder Dr. Melanie Matheu, who will assume the role of Chief Technology Officer and retain a Board seat.
Prellis Biologics has raised $35 million and appointed a new CEO as it seeks to advance the development of its proprietary 3D bioprinted lymph node.
BellaSeno GmbH, an ISO 13485-certified MedTech company developing resorbable chest and breast implant scaffolds using additive manufacturing technologies, began two clinical trials of its products in Australia, which are sponsored by its Australian subsidiary BellaSeno Pty. Already, recruiting has started in Brisbane, Australia.
Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, has opened its high-tech 3D printing facility at Anngrove, Cork – marked by a visit from Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, the IDA, and other local guests. The new 156,000-square-foot development creates capacity for 600 high-tech jobs in the future, and will help further Stryker’s leadership in med-tech additive manufacturing. Stryker has made significant investments in Anngrove to establish itself as a world leader in this technology, and will continue to invest for growth.
A flurry of dental 3D printing developments have been announced ahead of the start of America’s largest dental laboratory event, Lab Day 2022, tomorrow in Chicago.
Surgeons in Europe now have access to MyBone, a patient-specific 3D printed bone, to treat patients with severe facial deformations. This 3D printed bone is made of hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate that is the main mineral component of natural bone. MyBone is 3D printed with a unique porous structure by Cerhum, a medical device company in Liège, Belgium.
Researchers at India’s MNR Dental College and Hospital have developed a method of 3D printing a toothbrush that’s designed specifically to be easier for those with dexterity impairments to hold and use.
Chinese drug 3D printing firm Triastek has announced a partnership with global pharmaceuticals company Eli Lilly to research and develop 3D printed oral drugs for the gastrointestinal tract.
US biotechnology start-up Precise Bio has gained the backing of Carl Zeiss Meditec to fund the further development of its 3D printed cornea transplants.
When the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering (ACSE) at The University of Sheffield was looking for a way to accurately 3D print bioelectronic sensors, it reached out to Intertronics for support. The company supplied mixing and dispensing equipment to improve the consistency and quality of the mix – achieve better printing definition and reduced blockages in the nozzle of the 3D printer.
Biomedical technology company, ActivArmor, through its partnership with US-based 3D printer manufacturer, Fusion3, is expanding its distribution model to bring the company’s hygienic, waterproof, plastic custom cast fabrication directly into hospitals and clinics across the country.
Prellis Biologics Inc., a biotherapeutics company with human tissue engineering capabilities, has entered into a collaboration and license option agreement with Sanofi S.A., an innovative global healthcare company. The collaboration will focus on the discovery of antibodies with Prellis’ first-in-class external human immune system (EXIS), and leverages Prellis’ ability to engineer fully-human lymph node organoids (LNOs) and recreate immune responses in vitro to deliver antibodies with significant genetic diversity.
Researchers at Japan’s Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry have found Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing to be a more effective means of producing dental crowns than conventional milling.
Biogenic Dental Corporation is a family-owned dental laboratory operating since 1906. Located in the heart of Central New York, it is a full-service lab that provides high-quality dental restorations to their customers.
Carl Zeiss Meditec, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, and Precise Bio, a regenerative medicine company advancing the use of bio-printed tissues and organs, have entered into a partnership to develop and commercialize fabricated corneal tissue for transplants in patients that require endothelial keratoplasty and natural lenticule transplants for treating keratoconus and vision correction.
Triastek, Inc., a company specializing in 3D printing of pharmaceuticals, entered into a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, a leading global pharmaceutical company, to leverage the advantages of MED 3D printing technology to enable precisely targeted and programmed release of drugs in specific regions of the GI tract.
A research team led by Boston University has used 3D printing technology to develop a miniature replica of a human heart – and it beats like the real thing.
Nexa3D, the maker of ultrafast 3D printers, expanded its dental 3D printing solutions, set to exhibit at the upcoming LMT Lab Day in Chicago, IL, marking the company’s commitment to the dental space. Nexa3D offers next-generation productive lab and clinic digital solutions with accurate and affordable dental portfolio resins and end-to-end workflow, featuring proven accuracy and reliability for higher productivity. The large-format NXD 200 3D printer, designed specifically for high-throughput dental 3D printing applications, utilizes Nexa3D’s patented LSPc technology.
Lithoz GmbH has recently successfully installed their first 3D printer, a CeraFab System S65 Medical, at the CADdent facilities in Germany. CADdent, the leading provider of additive manufacturing and CAD/CAM solutions in dental technology, is currently expanding its 3D printing operations and, with this new acquisition, will offer high-precision 3D-printed ceramic components and serve as a high-performance partner for applied research in the future.
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) entered into an agreement to acquire Kumovis, a Munich, Germany-based additive manufacturing solutions provider for personalized healthcare applications. Kumovis’ solutions are built upon their unique extrusion technology specifically developed for precision printing of medical-grade, high-performance polymers such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone).
Researchers have used volumetric 3D printing to fabricate drug-loaded tablets within a matter of seconds, reportedly for the first time.
Eplus3D, a provider of metal 3D printer solutions, together with BioSummer 3D, a provider of dental products and service solutions in France, signed a distribution agreement to help more dental laboratories and labs realize 3D digital transformation.
3D Systems has entered the radiation oncology market with FDA 510(k) clearance of VSP Bolus, a solution designed to deliver high-quality patient-specific radiotherapy treatment accessories. As the latest addition to the company’s VSP portfolio of personalized medical devices, VSP Bolus is the only solution on the market that offers a full design and production service based on the patient’s treatment plan. As a result, radiotherapy providers do not need specialized design software and expertise, allowing them to focus directly on patient treatment and care. 3D Systems’ deep experience in additive manufacturing of medical devices enables the company to deliver 3D printed, biocompatible patient-specific boluses that can improve therapy modulation as well as patient comfort.
Finland-based bioprinting firm Brinter has launched what it claims is the world’s first multi-material, multi-fluidic bioprinting printhead.
Resin-based 3D printer manufacturer Formlabs has launched a new education platform that aims to advance the adoption of 3D printing within the dental sector.
Renowned robotic urologic oncology surgeon Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., was the first in the USA to test a new preoperative surgical rehearsal technology recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for all genitourinary conditions. The 3D printed kidney models, made by Lazarus 3D, provide an additional preparation tool for some surgical procedures.
Doctors in Dubai have successfully completed a series of surgeries on a young male patient to reform his facial deformities using 3D printed titanium implants.
Biotechnology firm United Therapeutics has showcased what it claims to be the “world’s most complex 3D printed object” in partnership with 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems at the recent LIFE ITSELF conference in San Diego.
Bertram Dental Lab (BDL), is an early pioneer in utilizing metal AM to produce Cobalt Chrome Removable Partial Dentures (RPDs) at scale. Since 2016, Bertram Dental Lab has had a long-standing partnership with SLM Solutions, after acquiring its first SLM280 Production Series. Since then, to enable the launch of its LazerTEK Print Service, BDL has installed four more printers. BDL’s mission is to provide its partners with the most consistently fitting, highest-quality wholesale parts. To achieve the level of quality BDL aims to provide to its customers, it relies on the repeatability and productivity of SLM Solutions technology to meet its marketplace’s demands and stringent industry standards.
SprintRay has released SprintRay Crown by BEGO – a 3D printing resin developed to help improve the quality, and accessibility, of customized restorative care in digital dentistry. The SprintRay Crown by BEGO hybrid material was developed through the collaboration of the two companies – SprintRay, a dental technology company building end-to-end 3D printing ecosystems, offering manufacturing solutions such as dental 3D printers, 3D printing software, curing technology, washing systems, and materials, and BEGO, a leading specialist in the field of prosthodontics and implant dentistry.
Oqton, a software provider, acquired by 3D Systems last year, that helps manufacturers increase innovation and efficiency by intelligently automating production, and Eplus3D, a leading global supplier of metal 3D printing solutions, have entered a strategic dental 3D printing partnership. Through this collaboration, both companies intend to enable dental laboratory professionals to increase productivity and provide a better service to their customers. This will be made possible by making Oqton’s AI-powered Manufacturing OS platform available to users of Eplus3D’s metal 3D printers. The combination of Oqton’s Manufacturing OS, and Eplus3D’s printing technology, as well as both organizations’ deep dental expertise, is intended to result in dental solutions that include full traceability and automation.
Photocentric, the company responsible for the creation of LCD 3D printing, has launched its Liquid Crystal Magna v.2, a completely re-engineered LCD screen-based printer designed with the intention to take additive manufacturing to ‘the next level’. The LC Magna v.2 delivers significantly faster print speeds – resulting in boosted productivity – and reduces waste. Photocentric’s new Liquid Crystal Magna v.2 is versatile and rugged, and is well suited to small-batch, on-demand, or full production applications. The printer consistently delivers accurate end-use parts, at scale, and at a very low cost per unit.
A group of researchers from the Mayo Clinic, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Medical University of South Carolina have 3D printed a low-cost proof-of-concept spinal surgical simulator.
REGEMAT3D, based in Granada, Spain has completed its second round of equity crowdfunding. Thanks to the participation of more than 500 investors, a total of €515,402 has been raised, which will be used to continue the development of the tissue and organ bioprinting technologies that the company has been marketing since 2015.
As we know by now, additive manufacturing technology has been around for a while and is evolving every day, but design is still the key to unlocking the full potential of this technology. Considering this, researchers at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) have published their recent work on the optimal design of 3D micro-architected implants. In this work, the researchers push the boundaries of the optimal design of orthopedic implants. The optimized micro-architected implants, which are suitable for additive manufacturing, result in a significant increase in performance compared to a conventional solid implant design.
BEAMIT Group, partly owned by SANDVIK, has invested in a GE Additive Concept Laser M Line system to meet growing demand from its aerospace and defense customers for both large format metal 3D printed components and the assistance in industrializing additive production.
3DBio Therapeutics, a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company, and the Microtia-Congenital Ear Deformity Institute have conducted a human ear reconstruction using the AuriNovo implant – an investigational, patient-matched, 3D bioprinted living tissue ear implant.
Osseus, an innovative spinal solutions company, obtained FDA 510(k) clearance and launch of the Pisces-SA Standalone ALIF Interbody System. The Pisces-SA interbody can be used with both bone screws and alternative fixation bone anchors allowing for increased intraoperative flexibility.
Humabiologics, an industry leader in providing human-derived biomaterials for regenerative medicine, founded by scientists and tissue industry experts to address the gap between the gift of donated human tissues and researchers, and Fisher Scientific, a global leader in life sciences, are partnering to serve researchers in academia and industry who are working on regenerative medicine research.
A group of researchers from Korean hospitals have carried out a retrospective study to verify the effectiveness and safety of patient-specific 3D printed titanium implants on maxillofacial bones.
Orion Medical GmbH, founded in Cham, Switzerland in March 2022, is a manufacturing solutions provider for the medical devices industry. The company is closely linked to Orion Additive Manufacturing GmbH (Orion AM), an established manufacturer of 3D printing systems for high-performance polymers based in Berlin, Germany. The key advantage of Orion Medical’s additive manufacturing technology is its Thermal Radiation Heating (TRH) system, which enables the 3D printing of customized medical devices on-demand with injection-molded strength and 100% density.
3D bioprinting firm BICO’s board has thrown its weight behind the company’s under-fire CEO Erik Gatenholm after mismanagement allegations being raised against him by a former employee and anonymous sources.
Israeli regenerative medicine firm Matricelf has reached a new milestone in the development of its 3D printed neural implants for paralyzed patients with spinal cord injuries.
3D printed prosthetic manufacturer Protosthetics has launched what it claims is the field’s first full-service, in-house 3D printing program for use in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) practices.
Canadian 3D bioprinting firm Aspect Biosystems has unveiled a new partnership with the international diabetes research and advocacy organization JDRF.
Barcelona-based 3D printer manufacturer BCN3D has produced 300 3D printed parts to create tourniquets to aid the humanitarian relief effort in Ukraine.
Formlabs introduced the new BioMed Black Resin and BioMed White Resin, two highly opaque medical-grade materials targeted for use in biocompatible applications.
Regenerative medicine specialist CollPlant (NASDAQ: CLGN) has revealed that the 3D bioprinted breast tissues it’s developing are set to enter animal trials in the very near future.
A 3D printing network in Michigan is rushing to aid Ukrainians during wartime by printing parts for tourniquets. The humanitarian effort is being led locally by Automation Alley’s Project DIAMOnD, a 3D printing network of 300 small and medium-sized manufacturers, which is working with Makershelp, a 3D printing organization in Denmark, to fulfill a request from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry to supply tourniquets to help those in need of medical assistance during the Russian assault on Ukraine. Project DIAMOnD will activate its emergency mode to mobilize all printers in its network to print tourniquet clips before final assembly in Denmark.
US 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has announced its entry into the radiation oncology market with the launch of its new Virtual Surgical Planning or ‘VSP’ Bolus solution.
Researchers at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering have developed a highly specialized 3D printing technique (using vat photopolymerization technology) that allows microfluidic channels to be fabricated on chips at a precise microscale not previously achieved.
Project DIAMOnD (Distributed, Independent, Agile Manufacturing On-Demand) has joined the growing number of organizations which have committed to 3D printing aid for those Ukrainians injured by Russian troops.
3Deus Dynamics, a developer of 3D printed silicone medical devices, is developing a new hybrid process that combines 3D printing and injection molding to produce anatomical models for the medical sector.
Netherlands-based non-profit 3D Sierra Leone has been nominated for an award by the World Health Organization (WHO) in recognition of its work in 3D printing prosthetics for the West African nation’s amputees.
Cresent, an Indian hornbill at ZooTampa in Florida, USA, has become the first bird to receive restorative surgery after developing a life-threatening tumor. The tumor was located under Crecent’s casque, without which her sinuses would be left exposed. The surgery saw her casque being replaced using biocompatible 3D printing technology.
Researchers at the University of Santiago de Compostela, MERLN Institute University College London (UCL) and UCL spin-out FabRx, have come up with a way of 3D printing tablets inside of seven seconds.
The findings, published by a University College London (UCL)-led research team, improve the prospects of how 3D printers could be integrated into rapid-paced clinical settings for the on-demand production of personalized medicines. For the current study, the researchers loaded printlets (printed tablets) with paracetamol – one of many medicines that can be produced using 3D printing.
US 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has entered into a partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) medical firm Enhatch to make the design and delivery of patient-specific medical devices more efficient.
Colgate, a world leader in oral healthcare, and Nourished, a personalized nourishment company, have teamed up to create Nutristacks – novel, 3D printed ‘chewies’ for on the go oral hygiene. The project adds to the growing suite of personalized 3D printed consumables within the industry.
Surgeons at Israel’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center (SZMC) have successfully transplanted the world’s thinnest artificial cornea into the eye of a patient, according to a Jerusalem Post report.
Evonik is expanding its portfolio of 3D printable biomaterials for medical technology: The specialty chemicals company has developed VESTAKEEP iC4800 3DF, a new osteoconductive PEEK filament, for 3D printed implants, that improves fusion between bone and implants. The high-performance polymer can be processed in common extrusion-based 3D printing technologies such as fused filament fabrication (FFF).
CurifyLabs and Natural Machines have entered a strategic partnership to develop a technology that enables customized medicine production through 3D printing – producing personalized medicines for human and veterinary patients, on-site in pharmacies and hospitals. Compounding is the manual preparation of individualized drug treatments for patients where an optimal treatment cannot be achieved with the currently available medicinal products. There are many talented pharmacists who are able to compound drugs manually but the process is ineffective and lacks quality control.
Automated post-processing systems manufacturer Additive Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) has deployed its PostPro chemical vapor smoothing technology to improve the surface finish, comfort, and durability of 3D printed prosthetics.
Pharmaceutical customization technology developer CurifyLabs has partnered with food printing firm Natural Machines with the aim of bringing a new low-cost drug 3D printer to market.
Remember when, in 2017, scientists 3D printed an artificial ovary and implanted it into a sterile mouse, which later gave birth to healthy pups? Now, science has gone one step further by 3D printing testicular cells – showing promising early signs of sperm-producing capabilities.
Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Western Australia are developing 3D printed artificial heart valves made from a patient’s own cells that grow as the individual ages.
Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin’s Pharmaceutical Engineering and 3D Printing (PharmE3D) Labs have gained US federal backing to create custom additive manufactured birth control devices.
Finland-based bioprinting firm Brinter, together with extrusion technology developer Puredyne, has announced the launch of its new Visco Bio printhead for use with its 3D bioprinters.
The venture capital arm of German chemicals firm Evonik has invested in Nevada-based 3D printed pharmaceutical firm Laxxon Medical to bring the mass production of 3D printed tablets closer to reality.
French 3D printing company Prodways Group achieved a solid end to the year 2021, marked by the good performance of all its activities and major orders for machines and materials. Sustained revenue growth in Q4 (up 17% to €20.2 million) enabled the company to post annual growth of +23.7%, thus exceeding the +20% target communicated last September. Total revenue for the Prodways FY 2021 was €70.8 million, of which €44 million from systems and €26.9 million from services.
Additive manufacturing solutions provider Eplus3D entered a partnership with Austrian industry experts HAGI and ISG Dental. Both partners have extensive experience in their respective industries and will therefore help to find suitable process solutions for local customers.
Researchers from the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, have used the microArch S140, a microscale 3D printer from Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), to help fabricate miniaturized vessels called hydrowells for culturing 3D cellular spheroids under microgravity conditions. The effort was part of the Spheroid Aggregation and Viability in Space, or SHAPE, experiment, which is supported by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and will be performed aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where scientific research is performed in low-earth orbit.
3D Systems and Saremco Dental AG entered a strategic partnership to accelerate innovation in digital dentistry. This effort brings together the power of 3D Systems’ industry-leading NextDent digital dentistry solution with Saremco’s materials science expertise – enabling dental laboratories and clinics to address a variety of indications with unparalleled accuracy, repeatability, productivity, and lower total cost. To facilitate these capabilities, the companies are also announcing the immediate availability of CROWNTEC material to be used with 3D Systems’ NextDent 5100 dental 3D printer and industry-leading software for the production of patient-specific permanent crowns.
A London man has reportedly become the first person in the world to be fitted with a 3D printed prosthetic eye.
A Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust patient was the first person in the world to be supplied solely with a fully digital 3D printed prosthetic eye on 25 November 2021. He first tried his eye on 11 November alongside a traditional acrylic prosthetic. By going home on 25 November with just his printed eye, he is the first patient to use a 3D printed eye as their sole prosthetic.
Stratasys continues to enhance anatomic modeling solutions for healthcare providers through the introduction of a new software module, Digital Anatomy Creator, for Stratasys Digital Anatomy 3D Printers. The new software allows users to easily manipulate material formations and customize the internal structures of their prints to achieve patient-specific anatomic models that are a direct replication of a patient’s pathologic and biologic anatomy.
PrinterPrezz and Uniformity Labs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to utilize Uniformity’s technology in laser powder bed fusion and binder jetting for medical device applications.
Advancements in additive manufacturing have the potential to significantly improve health care, allowing for surgical implants to be custom designed for each patient. Lauren Judkins, a graduate student in the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering, is adapting these advancements to enhance the recovery of patients who experienced rib injuries.“To create designs specifically for each unique patient, 3D printing is a necessity,” Judkins said. “I’m really motivated by the impacts my work could have on human health in the future.”
Formlabs is the first 3D printing company listed in a major group purchasing organization (GPO) catalog, demonstrating the increasing demand for 3D printed surgical tools and medical supplies in hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs). Formlabs received a contract from Vizient, the largest member-driven healthcare GPO in the nation, to offer its 3D printers, materials, and solutions for converting CT/MR imaging into tactile, patient-specific anatomical replicas for surgical planning, implant sizing, and patient consent. The contract provides negotiated pricing, terms and conditions for Vizient member healthcare organizations.
Medical device manufacturers Nvision Biomedical Technologies and Watershed Idea Foundry have received FDA clearance for what is reportedly the world’s first 3D printed titanium anterior cervical plate.
3D bioprinting firm BICO has announced an initial $1.5 million contract manufacturing deal with regenerative joint replacement start-up Nanochon.
3D printed anatomical models developed by rapid prototyping service provider Laser Modelling Israel (LMI) have aided surgeons in a complex segmentation surgery for conjoined twins.
Health Canada, the government arm that deals with national health, has approved its first Canadian-made 3D printed medical implant.
Skåne University Hospital is the first hospital in the world to 3D print a PEEK cranioplasty implant on site for it to be successfully received by a patient. The implant, based on Evonik‘s VESTAKEEP PEEK biomaterial filament, was 3D printed using the ApiumM220 3D printer from the German company Apium. While this is the first reported case of an implant to be 3D printed and implanted in the same hospital location, other companies, such as Lima Corporate, are currently developing on-site 3D printing capabilities for metal implants.
Biotechnology firm Prellis Biologics has announced the closure of a $14.5 million Series B funding round alongside the creation of a novel antibody discovery platform.
Primaeam Solutions Pvt. Ltd (PRIMAEAM), an Indian additive parts manufacturing company, inaugurated its new Additive Manufacturing Customer Experience Centre, Innovation & Incubation Centre for Healthcare in Chennai. Mr. S. Pankaj Kumar Bansal, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, TIDCO, inaugurated the center in the presence of Dr. S. Christopher, Former Chairman – DRDO, Dr. N. Vivek, MDS, Dean- SRM Dental College and Dr. Rita Christopher, Dean- NIMHANS.
The NOVOPLASM consortium has announced it is the “first in the world” to develop cold plasma technology for the treatment of infected burns and the wound healing of skin grafts.
Regenerative medicine firm CTIBIOTECH has developed a new 3D bioprinting platform to deliver personalized medicine for patients with colorectal cancer.
Graphy, a South Korean-based manufacturer of 3D printable photopolymer resins, has unveiled what it claims is the “world’s first” direct 3D printed aligner that features a shape memory function.
Bioconvergence company BICO is partnering with Nanochon, a startup developing regenerative joint replacements. Under the terms of the deal, Nanochon will purchase $1.5 million worth of products and services from BICO’s SCIENION to develop 3D printed regenerative joint implants. Nanochon’s novel joint implant technology promises to deliver faster and more successful recoveries for patients while reducing costs to health providers, payers, and patients.
And that’s why you really should never say never in 3D printing. When Sarco was introduced a couple of years ago as a 3D printed assisted suicide pod to simplify euthanasia we wrote that off as a publicity—or at most an artistic—stunt (so much so that we did not even cover the story). But we should not have written it off and we should have covered the story. Now the Sarco pod has been OK’d to KO by the Swiss authorities (one of the first nations to legalize euthanasia.
Industrial 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys has introduced a new software module, the Digital Anatomy Creator, for its Digital Anatomy 3D printers in order to enhance the production of 3D printed anatomic models.
Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), one of the pioneers in microscale 3D printing systems, and UK-based 3D printing materials company 4D Biomaterials have jointly achieved the capability to print micro-scale geometries using 4Degra bioresorbable materials. This marks the first time a bioresorbable material has been printed using micro 3D printing and the two companies expect it will revolutionize the way implantable medical devices are manufactured in the future.
The medical 3D printing industry marked an exciting milestone in Canada this week: Health Canada (a government department tasked with national health policies) has approved a 3D printed medical implant made by LARA 3D in Quebec City. The 3D printed device, a patient-specific mandibular plate, is the first made by a Canadian manufacturer to be granted authorization for implantation.
Scientists at the Irish RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed a novel bio-ink that can be 3D printed into tissues capable of fast-forwarding the human wound-healing process.
Fluicell, a Sweden-based bioprinting startup founded in 2012 as a spin-out of the Chalmers University of Technology, has undertaken research to develop medicinal products for treating type 1 diabetes. The project, which recently achieved a significant milestone, is based on biocomposite tissues generated by Fluicell’s Biopixlar system.
Incredible AM (aka 3D Incredible) has been one of the pioneers in India for metal 3D printing with a state-of-the-art AM plant located in Pune. The company has now reported that it has produced over 600 3D printed implants and medical devices, making it one of the largest and most advanced such service providers in the world.
While microneedle patches have been studied for decades, the work by Carolina and Stanford overcomes some past challenges: through 3D printing, the microneedles can be easily customized to develop a 3D printed vaccine patch that could be used for flu, measles, hepatitis and COVID-19 vaccination.
Paragon Medical, a global provider of medical components and products, announced the groundbreaking on a new additive manufacturing facility in Pierceton, Indiana. Paragon Medical broke ground on the new medical AM facility with local dignitaries in attendance including Joseph Thallemer, Mayor of Warsaw; David Rosenberg, IEDC Executive Vice President; and Mary Martin, Regional Director in the Office of Senator Mike Braun.
The 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards shortlists are now open for voting until the 20th of October. Cast your votes here.
Materialise has introduced its new Dental Module for Magics. This addition to the Magics software is designed to enable dental labs to fully optimize and automate their 3D printing preparation workflow for dental applications. With dentistry becoming more digitalized, Dental Module provides dental labs with the easy-to-use tools required to ensure a scalable 3D printing process.
Engineers at Washington State University (WSU) and DL ADV-Tech have used 3D printing to develop a means of detecting exposure to the potentially-carcinogenic herbicide glyphosate.
Korea-based biotech startup Plcoskin is set to lead an international joint research project focused on developing a new type of 3D printed breast implant.
Nominations for the 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open, have your say who is leading the industry now.
Stryker, a major adopter of AM for implants production is establishing a new medical R&D Lab in Queensland, Australia that builds on existing partnerships with hospitals, researchers, universities and local governments to drive the transformation of research into viable, commercially available precision medical device technology.
What do certification bodies or notified bodies look at when validating additive manufacturing processes? In the MedTech sector, their focus will be on personnel qualification and, in particular, the process chain. In its new white paper, TÜV SÜD outlines the state-of-the-art manufacturing method and takes a closer look at the applicable standards. “We point out existing gaps and potential issues related to the additive manufacturing of medical devices, and outline feasible procedures”, said Simon Schlagintweit, Lead Auditor Additive Manufacturing at TÜV SÜD. The publication explains the individual steps in process chain qualification and validation and discusses the post-processing of products. The white paper’s target audience includes industry representatives, but also decision-makers in point-of-care diagnostics in areas such as research institutes and hospitals.
The 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards shortlists are open for voting, have your say now.
Bioprinting company T&R Biofab and B Braun, a major healthcare solutions provider, held a joint presentation to launch T&R’s new 3D printed PCL Craniofacial bone implants products. The event, hosted by B Braun Korea was held at the Dragon City Hotel in Seoul.
Stratasys, an expert in polymer 3D printing solutions, has signed an agreement with French med-tech start-up Bone 3D, designed to put Stratasys 3D printing technology directly into the hands of France’s front-line medical professionals.
Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, and DiveDesign partnered to develop a custom 3D printed K9 quad cart for rescue dog “Wobbly Hannah” (@wobblyhannahtotherescue).
Voting shortlists for the 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open. Who do you think should receive top honors this year? Have your say now.
SprintRay Inc., a global MedTech pioneer and industry leader in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, signed a five-year partnership with eight-time Olympic gold medalist, Usain Bolt. Bolt and SprintRay are also collaborating with the Jamaican Dental Association to invest in the launch of “Bolt Labs, powered by SprintRay” – an initiative with a mission to make world-class digital dental care accessible to Jamaica.
The 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards shortlists are open for voting, have your say now.
The 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards shortlists are open for voting, have your say now.
The PhonoGraft biomimetic hearing-restoration technology, advanced through a six-year effort by a multidisciplinary research team at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE)/Mass General Brigham (MGB), has now entered commercial development. If successful, it could mitigate pain, drainage, and hearing loss associated with eardrum perforations that affect millions of individuals worldwide.
Nominations for the 2021 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open, have your say who is leading the industry now.
A 3D printed orthosis capable of counteracting the negative effects of hypertonia in children with cerebral palsy has won a national James Dyson Award.
Medical device company MANTIZ has acquired an Eplus3D EP-M260 metallic 3D printer to additively manufacture cages in titanium for use in implant surgery. The entire process of shaping the company’s proprietary PANTHER spinal implants is now carried out internally by MANTIZ.
Desktop Health, the recently launched health business belonging to metal 3D printer manufacturer Desktop Metal, has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its proprietary Flexcera Base resin used in the 3D printing of dental prosthetics.
A team of interdisciplinary researchers at KU Leuven University have taken a step closer to being able to regrow teeth from the root using 3D printing.
Clinicians at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and MIT have developed a novel 3D printed shielding that protects the healthy tissues of cancer patients during radiotherapy.
Nexa3D, launched its NXD200, a new dental lab 3D printer. NXD200 3D printer features patented LSPc technology that combines a large build area, print uniformity, advanced process algorithms, modular design for on-site automation, and intelligent optimization. The NXD200 is available with all of Keystone’s KeyPrint resins, including KeySplint Soft which delivers a combination of strength to protect teeth and flexibility for improved patient comfort, all with a transparent and aesthetic appearance.
Desktop Health, recently launched by Desktop Metal, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance of FlexceraTM Base, a proprietary resin for use in 3D fabrication of high-quality dental prosthetics. Flexcera Base along with the new FlexceraTM Smile are Desktop Health’s first formulated and optimized digital dental solutions.
Additive manufacturing has been touted for its potential to have a major role in disrupting the traditional orthopedic industry for almost a decade. However, even in a sector that grapples with increasing costs for orthopedic specialists and demands for improved comfort, aesthetics, and quality of life, adoption of AM technologies has been slow. Much of it has to do with costs and quality of materials as well as the productivity rate of the machines. This is now changing as material giant BASF’s Forward AM is partnering with Belgian MedTech company Spentys to make these supports truly available, accessible, and viable.
restor3d merger with Kinos Medical, an expert total ankle replacement company. restor3d was founded with a mission to enable surgeons to repair and reconstruct the human body using 3D printing technologies, advanced biomaterials, and artificial intelligence. In 2018, the company invested in significant infrastructure and in-house manufacturing capabilities to expand its offering of implants in orthopedic and spine indications. With a robust pipeline of products slated for regulatory submission, recent FDA clearances include osteotomy wedges and cervical interbody fusion implants. The merger with Kinos Medical will accelerate restor3d’s expansion into the high-growth foot and ankle market in the U.S.
Desktop Health, a service recently launched by Desktop Metal, received the Conformité Européenne (CE) Mark certification for its Flexcera resin, a proprietary technology for use in 3D fabrication of high-quality dental prosthetics. The CE Mark affirms that Flexcera resins meet the requirements of the European Medical Devices Directive, paving the way for Desktop Health to launch Flexcera resins to dental professionals within the European Union (EU) and other CE Mark geographies. Flexcera Base, which recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Flexcera Smile are Desktop Health’s first formulated and optimized digital dental solutions.
BellaSeno GmbH, an ISO 13485-certified MedTech company developing absorbable scaffolds using additive manufacturing technologies, established a novel, leading-edge additive manufacturing facility for medical implants supported by the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Leipzig, Germany.
FluidForm, an expert in the field of human tissue for research, repair, and replacement signed an agreement with Ethicon, a member of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, to develop 3D bioprinted applications using FluidForm’s patented FRESH technology. This collaboration leverages FluidForm’s FRESH 3D bioprinting platform to achieve specific tissue characteristics that cannot be manufactured with conventional techniques.
Researchers at the UK-based Staffordshire University have developed an ultra-low-cost insole with integrated sensing capabilities that could help prevent the growth of life-threatening foot ulcers in diabetics.
The capabilities of a 3DUJ-553 3D printer from Mimaki, a manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutters, have been leveraged by the University of Florence and Mimaki’s exclusive Italian importer Bompan to produce 3D printed anatomical models with a previously unattainable degree of color fidelity.
Munich-based chemical firm Linde Group and clinical printing specialist 3D Medlab have announced the results of testing their new process gas to optimize the 3D printing of medical components.
Biotechnology specialist Pixelbio has developed a novel 3D printed molecular biochip with the potential to ramp-up the pace of clinical genetic testing.
Dental 3D printer and material manufacturer Dentafab has revealed that two of its resins have been given CE clearance for 3D printing crowns and dentures.
Medical device manufacturer 3D LifePrints has gained ISO certification for the quality assurance procedures behind its 3D printed surgical guides and anatomical models.
3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has announced a co-development agreement with CollPlant, a regenerative medicine firm, to develop 3D bioprinted soft tissue structures for breast reconstruction treatments.
A group of Korean scientists have developed a low-cost 3D printed adapter that turns everyday smartphones into endoscopic vocal cord disease diagnostic tools.
The introduction of a novel, optimal gas mixture by Linde comes on the back of earlier promising results from a joint development program between Linde and 3D Medlab – now part of Marle Group – to improve quality and productivity of advanced thin medical devices made from Ti64.
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Volumetric 3D bioprinter manufacturer and EPFL spin-out Readily3D has taken the first step towards developing a 3D printed living model of the human pancreas for testing diabetes medicines.
Over the last decade, 3D bioprinting has come on leaps and bounds, with significant advances being made in the development of viable, patient-specific soft tissues.
For many of the 422 million people around the world living with diabetes, glucose monitoring is a necessary, and uncomfortable, daily chore requiring a painful pinprick to test the blood. Newer technologies, like the FreeStyle Libre, offer continuous monitoring, but the system still requires that a 5mm rigid metallic needle be driven into the skin. While not as bothersome as the fingertip lance, it’s still uncomfortable for the patient. Aiming to develop a solution that’s more comfortable for the user, the AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology – partnered with DirectSens and In-Vision to launch the NUMBAT research project. NUMBAT aims at leveraging high-resolution DLP 3D printing to create an array of polymeric microneedles for minimally invasive—and less painful—continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
3D LifePrints, a leading 3D technology company providing innovative solutions to the medical sector, has achieved ISO 13485:2016 certification for its Quality Management System (QMS).
3D printer manufacturer B9Creations has partnered with South Dakota-based social services organization Black Hills Works to 3D print custom assistive devices for over 600 disabled individuals.
Aetrex Worldwide launched Albert 3DFit, a sleek and modern 3D foot scanner created to revolutionize the retail industry by making 3D fit technology available to stores of all sizes. Offering the most innovative technologies, this scanner can calculate customers’ 3D foot measurements in less than 10 seconds with an accuracy of up to 1 millimeter. It features Aetrex’s FitGenius AI platform, which matches customers’ unique foot profiles with their ideal footwear styles and sizes to provide personalized footwear recommendations that can be accessed across a retailer’s digital shopping platforms after leaving the store.
Stratasys introduced a medical 3D printer that sets a new standard for healthcare providers and medical device companies by combining multiple applications in one system. With multiple materials and multi-color capabilities, the Stratasys J5 MediJet 3D printer enables users to create highly detailed 3D anatomical models and drilling and cutting guides with approved third-party 510k-cleared segmentation software. Guides and models are certified as sterilizable and biocompatible, and the printer is economical and compact enough for small lab spaces.
A mechanical engineering student at TU Delft has designed a prosthetic upper-limb socket that can be 3D printed using an everyday FDM system for only €30.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have utilized 3D printing to develop more comfortable radiation-receiving antennas for cancer patients to wear during microwave breast hyperthermia procedures.
For a deeper-dive into additive manufacturing, you can now subscribe to our Youtube channel, featuring discussion, de-briefs and shots of 3D printing in-action.
The LC Magna, a large LED stereolithography 3D printer from Photocentric, has been integrated with 3Shape’s Clear Aligner Enterprise software solution. Developed specifically for designing clear aligners, 3Shape’s software provides a flexible and scalable option for a digital production process.
Kanfit 3D, the Israel-based firm specializing in 3D printing with aluminum and titanium alloys, has entered into a partnership with Anthill Ventures, a speed scaling ecosystem that invests in and scales early-stage companies to penetrate the Indian market.
The Materialise Phits Suite is a new standard of personalized care program that helps improve patient mobility. After decades of experience in gait analysis and 3D technology, Materialise wants to start the next generation of insoles, leveraging the latest digital path capture technology, advanced analysis software and 3D printing to achieve a more accurate, efficient and fully customizable workflow. The Materialise Phits Suite is a digital toolbox for accurate and efficient end-to-end workflow, that can assist in providing patient counseling, care, and treatment.
PrinterPrezz and Vertex have partnered to provide customers with multiple services for advanced medical device additive manufacturing.
XFeet, a manufacturer of custom foot orthotics, has adopted HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 technology to produce its insoles and accelerate the growth of the digital transition of the podiatry sector in France.
Materials manufacturer Covestro and orthopedic service provider GeBioM, based in Münster, Germany, are expanding their cooperation in the field of orthopedic footwear. In addition to producing lasts and trial shoes, they now support orthopedic shoemakers in the production of custom insoles using 3D printing. A new Addigy FPU 79A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) from Covestro is used in the form of filaments. Together with Danish printer partner Create it REAL, the companies offer a novel and sustainable solution for the digital production of shoe insoles.
Researchers based at the Dutch Wageningen University (WUR) have developed a COVID-19 home test kit that can be 3D printed and constructed for less than 20p.
PRIMAEAM (pronounced as “PREMIUM”), a new entrant to Additive Manufacturing in India, is betting on GE Additive’s Electron Beam Melting technology. The company, which already provides polymer 3D printing services with FDM and MJF technology, just installed a new Arcam Q10 system.
Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine used a 3D bioprinter to fabricate a Biomesh using a polymer called phosphate cross-linked poly (vinyl alcohol) polymer (X-PVA) for an innovative new treatment of hernias. The complete study was published in Advanced Materials.
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is seeking approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its 3D printed hearing aids.
Global manufacturing services company Jabil has revealed its intentions to establish a new 3D printing center of excellence in the U.S. To create the center, the company is planning to invest around $42 million to expand a healthcare facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Advanced Development of Additive Manufacturing (A.D.A.M.) is on the cusp of releasing 3D-printed bioresorbable bone implants. The implants would, if successful, be completely absorbed by the body. Recovery times would improve; patients would undergo fewer surgeries; the implant is personalized to each patient.
Andiamo, a UK-based medtech company specializing in 3D printed orthotics, has been crowned London’s most innovative tech company. It was voted to first place in the inaugural London Tech 50, a ranking of the city’s most exciting technology companies. The list is established by BusinessCloud, a business tech media company headquartered in Manchester.
Surgeons at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK, have fitted a 3D printed sternum implant in a patient to help repair their breastbone.
axial3D, a medical manufacturing service provider headquartered in Northern Ireland, is providing Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with an on-site 3D printing lab. Housed at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, one of six potential beneficiaries of the facility, the lab will be used to produced patient-specific models for pre-surgical planning.
3D Bioprinting Solutions, a Russian bio-technical research laboratory, has 3D bioprinted bone tissue in zero gravity on the International Space Station (ISS).
Scientists from the Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL) University of São Paulo (USP), have utilized 3D bioprinting to develop functional hepatic organoids, otherwise known as mini-livers.
Australian med-tech company Anatomics has conducted a study on the benefits of 3D printed patient-specific medical models for pre-surgical planning.
GE Healthcare Life Sciences and Advanced Solutions Life Sciences (ASLS), a Kentucky-based biotechnology firm, are collaborating to build an integrated 3D bioprinter by combining their respective technologies.
AdventHealth Nicholson Center, a Florida-based medical training facility, has launched its Prototype Lab to enable the development of medical devices using additive manufacturing technology.
San Francisco biotechnology company Prellis Biologics has launched a web-based platform for the generative design and download of 3D printable tissue scaffolds. Named TissueWorkshop™, the platform has been created to reduce the amount of time required to create such structures, freeing experts from labor-intensive design cycles.
Radiophysicists at the National Research Tomsk State University (TSU) in Russia have successfully 3D printed with tecason, a high performance medical grade plastic with a melting point between 350-400°C.
GE Healthcare, the medical equipment subsidiary of multinational conglomerate GE, and SLA and SLS 3D printer provider Formlabs have announced a collaboration aiming to make it easier for clinicians to 3D print patient-specific anatomical models from imaging data.
Formlabs has launched a new 3D printer and business unit for dental 3D printing.
Scottish biomaterial developer, Biogelx, and Regemat 3D, a Spain manufacturer of bioprinting systems, have partnered to develop a new skin model as well as offering complete bioprinting solutions for research institutes worldwide.
Leading German specialty chemicals business Evonik has signed a long-term agreement with 3D printed scaffold developer BellaSeno GmbH. The agreement guarantees BellaSeno’s use of Evonik’s bioresorbable polymer RESOMER in the production of its proprietary 3D printed Senella product.
Scientists from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Pennsylvania, have used a novel 3D bioprinting method to build functional parts of the human heart.
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith (UAFS) has collaborated with Methodist Village Senior Living to provide Alzheimer’s residents with 3D printed recreational items.
Guyson International, a North Yorkshire-based industrial finishing equipment manufacturer, has launched its Powder Flush system to clean 3D printed medical implant trabecular structures.
B9Creations, the South Dakota-based manufacturer of the B9 Core Series of DLP 3D Printers, has launched a new additive manufacturing Healthcare Division & Service Bureau as well as a 3D printer targeted at the medical industry.
Robert Smith, an iron worker from St. Petersburg, Florida, has become the first person to receive a 3D printed finger bone implant in the U.S.
CollPlant, an Israeli 3D bioprinting and regenerative medicine firm, has announced that it is developing implants for breast tissue regeneration. After conducting early development, the company has successfully produced the first prototypes. It believes that these 3D bioprinted breast implants could have the potential to provide a safer alternative to the standard methods of permanent breast implantation.
The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) are building a 3D printing clinical data registry to support medical professionals applying additive manufacturing in healthcare.
LimaCorporate installed the first EOS metal LPBF (DMLS) 3D printers to the new ProMade PoC Center for Complex Orthopedic Solutions at HSS in New York City. The ProMade PoC Center will also host EBM printers when it will be officially inaugurated later this year.
After joining the BEAMIT Group, ZARE has now acquired a majority stake in the additive manufacturing (AM) medical company Proxera. As a result of this acquisition, one of the leading metal AM service providers in Europe will now also enter the high-growth market for 3D printed metal implants.
Scientists from medical tech company Fluicell have partnered with clinical R&D firm Cellectricon and the Swedish Karolinska Institutet university to 3D bioprint neural cells into complex patterns.
Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, the company behind the first FDA approved 3D printed drug Spritam, has entered into a long-term collaboration with private non-profit research and development (R&D) firm, Battelle.
Italian biomedical start-up Exos has debuted its new ‘Armor’ range of customizable 3D printed back braces at the online CES 2021 technology trade show.
Austrian startup Luxinergy developed a new material and a fast DLP 3D printer addressing two major challenges in the field of orthotics: comfort and speed. This innovation was made possible through advancements in materials science and DLP technology.
Last month, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering and the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine demonstrated a 3D printed microneedle array platform capable of delivering vaccines directly into the skin, with the particular goal of improving COVID-19 vaccine delivery in the developing world. The study was conducted using micro-stereolithography PμSL 3D printing technology developed by Boston Micro Fabrication and is the latest effort in a race to the most precise 3D prints to produce objects used in our macroscopic world.
Population aging is one of Europe’s great challenges in the 21st century. By 2024, 22% of Europeans are expected to be over 65. Patients suffering from chronic joint detop fects or defects in the oral and maxillofacial regions have a significantly reduced quality of life and are continually dependent on health care. The Covid-19 crisis has shown how dangerous chronically overcrowded hospitals and large cohorts of care-dependent and risk-grouped patients can become. Therefore, science and technology must work together to ensure that living longer can be synonymous with living well. INKplant, a project funded by the European Union H2020, was conceived to face this challenge and democratize its new solutions.
Electronic medical device manufacturer EMTEL has selected 3DGence 3D printers for its product prototyping and part supply.
Additive manufacturing and 3D scanning have been increasingly integrated within the healthcare sector. 3D Systems, in particular, has contributed significantly to the advancement of surgical procedures with this technology.
American multinational consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) has signed a 3D bioprinting research and development agreement with San Francisco biotechnology company Aether.
3D printed ophthalmic lens specialist Luxexcel has announced that its proprietary 3D printing technology for optical lenses has advanced from the pilot phase to the printing of commercial lenses.
Leading 3D printer OEM Stratasys has introduced a new full-color PolyJet machine. The J720 Dental can 3D print ultra-realistic dental models using 500,000 color combinations.
ROKIT Healthcare, a Korean 3D bioprinter manufacturer previously known as ROKIT, has introduced a novel 3D bioprinting method to treat scarred lesions.
Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP) company Carbon has launched a range of new 3D printing solutions for the dental market. Bolstering its recent partnership with America’s National Dentex Labs (NDX) and a growing range of dental resins, the company has launched the M2d 3D printer, new materials, and industry-specific updates for its operation software.
Researchers at St. Mary’s Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, have applied 3D printing to the treatment of a condition that can cause respiratory problems and sleep disorders. In a clinical study, the team used 3D printing to develop a biocompatible splint that could be inserted into the nose and help correct a deviated septum. In 20 volunteer patients, aged 18-74, the 3D printed device proved to outperform other artificial splints.
Kijenzi, a humanitarian start-up from Pennsylvania State University’s College of Engineering, is aiding remote healthcare facilities in Kenya with 3D printed medical supplies.
Australian metal 3D printer manufacturer Aurora Labs has agreed to develop designs, specifications and parameters for the 3D printing of titanium medical implants. Developed under partnership with the University of Western Australia (UWA) and Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), the parameters will come in the form of an instructional guide for using an Aurora Labs 3D printer to manufacture medical implants.
Contract 3D printed implant manufacturer Tangible Solutions, has announced the expansion of its facility in Fairborn, Ohio.
California-headquartered medical imaging company QT Ultrasound has used its detailed pictures of microanatomy to 3D print a model of a woman’s breast tissue. A tangible model of the complex duct system, the model presents a potential avenue for diagnosticians working with breast cancer.
Swedish 3D bioprinter manufacturer CELLINK has agreed to acquire the in-vitro technology specialist MatTek Corporation for $68 million.
New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and implant manufacturer, LimaCorporate unveiled the first provider-based 3D design and printing facility for custom complex joint replacement solutions.
Nexxt Spine, an Indiana-based spinal implants manufacturer, has announced that it will develop 3D printed bone healing spinal implants with the help of MTS Systems Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of simulations and testing systems.
Researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW) ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) in Australia, have developed a customizable 3D bioprinter, 3D Alek, to combat congenital ear deformity.
UC Davis Health’s surgeons are using 3D printing to assist them in complex surgical procedures. Part of the University of California, Davis, the faculty believes that in the long term this technology will remove barriers to understanding in medical surgery and medical education.
Renishaw additive manufacturing has played a pivotal role in the recent clinical trial of an experimental treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. Documented in a two part-series produced by the BBC titled The Parkinson’s Drug Trial: A Miracle Cure? this trial includes the novel development of 3D printed medical device capable of delivering drugs directly to affected parts of the brain. After 40-80 weeks in-situ, the implants have become part of a potentially landmark advance in the treatment of this long-term degenerative disorder.
Austria-based oral implantologist, researcher and inventor Dr. Mario Kern has developed the Extended Anatomic Platform (EAP), a patented process for creating metal 3D printed dental abutments.
Scientists from the Foundation for Research and Science Development in Poland (Fundacja Badań I Rozwoju Nauki or Fundacja BIRN) are using 3D bioprinting to create a bionic pancreas.
Formlabs is introducing Scan to Model, a new feature in its PreForm software that is designed to convert intraoral scans into easily 3D printable models. Dental professionals can use Scan to Model as an entry point into digital dentistry workflows without having prior experience with digital dental design software.
Professor Mashudu Tshifularo and a team of surgeons at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in South Africa have just completed a landmark operation for 3D printing in healthcare.
Scientists from London’s Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Royal Marsden Hospital have used 3D printed tungsten disks within a gamma camera for higher resolution medical imaging.
CELLINK, the Swedish manufacturer of the BIO X 3D printer, and Volumetric a Texas-based biomaterials and biomanufacturing company, have introduced the Lumen X Digital Light Processing (DLP) bioprinter to produce large vascular structures.
UNYQ, a San Francisco-based company specializing in 3D printed medical wearables, has announced the launch of the UNYQ Socket, a 3D printed prosthetic leg socket. It is available for order now after being unveiled at the British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotists (BAPO) in Harrogate, UK on March 15th 2019.
South Korean scientists are working to improve cancer treatments with 3D bioprinting.
RTI Surgical, a Michigan-based medical technology company, has enrolled its first Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) patient for clinical evaluation of its Fortilink Interbody Fusion (IBF) 3D printed implants.
Philadelphia-headquartered 3D bioprinting company Allevi has launched the Skin Bioink Kit. A material package, this kit is to be used in conjunction with its 3D bioprinters to produce patches of skin. It aims to allow tissue engineers to design multi-layered skin patches that are more akin to natural human skin.
Researchers from George Washington University (GWU) and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have used open-source 3D printing to monitor cardiac arrhythmias otherwise known as an irregular heartbeat.
Scientists from the University at Buffalo have developed a rapid new 3D bioprinting method that could represent a significant step towards fully-printed human organs.
Scientists from the Israel Institute of Technology have developed an automated production line for 3D printing low-cost customized prosthetic limbs.
GeBioM and Create it REAL stand at the beginning of a long-term partnership that might revolutionize how personalized insoles are produced. The partners are launching a disrupting insole production concept that uses 3D printing and digitalization of production workflows.
CD3D Medical, the R&D arm of Polish 3D printing news provider CD3D Sp. z. o. o. (Centrum Druku 3D) has created an Open 3D Bioprinting Cluster in Lodz. Part of the Bionanopark laboratory complex, this facility, according to the company, is one of largest of its kind in Europe, housing 21 SKAFFOSYS 3D bioprinters developed specially for this purpose.
Engineers from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, have developed a 3D bioprinting method using magnets to rapidly produce cell clusters.
British metal 3D printing specialist, Renishaw, has collaborated with nTopology, and research organization Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) to streamline the 3D printing of spinal implants. The metal implants made in the study mimic the structure of human bone and have lattice structures.
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have used fine-scale 3D bioprinting and melt electrowriting to grow highly uniform cell cultures.
Shapeways, a 3D printing marketplace and service bureau, has added Nylon PA11 to its materials portfolio to enable the creation of 3D printed orthotics and prosthetics. As a result of an ongoing partnership with leading 3D printer OEM EOS, Shapeways’ offering of Nylon PA11 has been undertaken to increase 3D printing’s accessibility for medical professionals.
Scientists at Rice University and the University of Maryland (UMD) have outlined a new proof-of-concept for 3D printing artificial bone tissue. With results published in Acta Biomaterialia, the hope is that such tissues may one day help to damage related to arthritis and sporting accidents.
Scientists at the University of Minnesota have produced a 3D printed transparent skull implant them to observe the inner workings of mouse-brains in real time. Named the See-Shell it could provide new insights for human brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Poietis, a French biotechnology company, has announced the granting of a third patent for its laser-assisted 3D bioprinting method.
Tangible Solutions, an Ohio-based manufacturer of medical devices, has validated the quality and consistency of its 3D printed titanium spinal implants. The results of this validation were published in a recent study.
3DP4ME, a Jordanian non-profit organization using 3D printing to meet human needs, and World Wide Hearing (WWH) are seeking to raise $200,000 to provide 3D printed hearing-aid molds in the Middle East.
Nexxt Spine, an Indiana-based medical device manufacturer, has expanded its metal 3D printing capabilities with the installation of two Concept Laser Mlab 100R systems from GE Additive.
Scientists at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich have developed a new technique to make organs, and even whole organisms transparent – which aims to lead to high-fiedlity 3D printed models.
A research article published in The Optical Society (OSA) journal Optics Letters describes how researchers have produced a 3D printed high-resolution digital holographic microscopy (DHM) microscope.
Until now, implants and prostheses have mostly been made of steel or titanium. This has disadvantages as these materials do not always adapt optimally to patients and their bones. They can break and require repeat operations. Recent research by Heraeus Amloy together with the University of Graz is on the verge of a breakthrough, demonstrating that amorphous metals can be used to additively manufacture medical implants.
Heraeus Amloy, a metallurgy specialist, is working with the University of Graz to 3D print novel medical devices made of amorphous metals.
Chinese medical 3D printing provider Huaxiang Group has been granted landmark clearance from the country’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for a novel 3D printed spinal implant.
Health Canada, a department of the Canadian government, has issued new guidance for the 3D printing of medical devices.
Ukranian ceramic 3D printing service provider Kwambio and Estonian early stage investment firm WeFund Ventureshave launched a new 3D bioprinting project.
uLab Systems, a digital dental company based in California (CA), has announced a commercial milestone for its U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared dental aligner planning software, which allows for the same-day 3D printing of clear orthodontic appliances. The company has revealed that it has had over 13,000 cases planned with its “chairside” dental movement planning software, since launching a pilot program to receive market feedback for it in the summer of 2018.
Korean researchers have utilized a 3D printer to fabricate more affordable and customizable artificial testicles for patients in need of a testis transplant.
3D printed implant developer Osteopore has teamed up with Maastricht University Medical Centre (UMC+) to develop a bioresorbable bone implant that could prevent lower leg amputations, made possible using a 3D printer.
Advanced prosthetics manufacturer Partial Hand Solutions (PHS) has leveraged Formlabs’ new Form 1 3D printer to optimize its artificial limb manufacturing process.
Readily3D, a manufacturer of volumetric 3D bioprinters, has announced its participation in the European ENLIGHT project.
Scientists from the Canadian McMaster University and University of Waterloo have 3D printed a live model that’s capable of replicating the impact of smoking cannabis on the human lung.
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Materialise‘s 3D technologies played a crucial role in the world’s first successful si ...
Belgian software and service provider Materialise has used its 3D printing and software technologies to support a novel simultaneous double hand and face transplant.
Two postdoctoral researchers at UC Santa Barbara, Renxuan Xie and Sanjoy Mukherjee, developed the first 3D-printable “bottlebrush” elastomer. The new material results in printed objects that have unusual softness and elasticity that closely resemble those of human tissue. The researchers’ findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
3D printing has been of interest in the medical sector since the technology’s inception and is today used for a myriad of applications—from surgical guides and anatomical models to implants and tools. Recently, the technology has become especially important, providing support to local medics in times of great need. Selective laser sintering (SLS), specifically, has been an important tool in the medical AM world, supporting complex surgeries and procedures in the form of tools and visual aids.
Scientists from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have 3D printed a novel device that enables diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels using only perspiration and a standard smartphone.
The FDA has approved its first 3D printed talus metal implant designed to replace the main bone in the ankle joint connecting the leg to the foot. The agency issued a green light to New Jersey-based Additive Orthopaedics under humanitarian use for the treatment of avascular necrosis, a progressive condition that can lead to the death of bone tissue following a sudden injury that cuts off blood flow, such as a broken bone or dislocation.
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart and Robert Bosch Hospital are developing a novel 3D printed tissue platform that could replace animal testing in clinical trials.
Researchers from the German Kiel University have developed novel 3D printed ‘spiky-joints’ that provide wrist injury patients with a more flexible form of arm support.
Pandorum Technologies Pvt., a Bangalore-based biotechnology company, has used 3D bioprinted cornea tissue to promote scarless healing of wounds in the eye.
HP, manufacturers of the award-winning Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printers, and SmileDirectClub, a Nashville-based teledentistry company, have announced a partnership to increase the production of its customized clear aligners at RAPID + TCT.
XJet, an Israeli 3D printer manufacturer, has sold a Carmel 1400 3D printer to Marvel Medtech, a Wisconsin-based medical device manufacturer specializing in cancer treatment.
3D Printing Industry is in Detroit this week to bring our readers all the news from RAPID + TCT. So far we’ve published over 30 articles dedicated to the all the latest in the additive manufacturing ecosystem – with much more to come.
Canadian 3D bioprinting technology company Aspect Biosystems has announced its involvement in a $2.2 million project seeking to find new treatments for cancer. Starting this year, the company will be working with collaborators at two of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies Merck and GSK, as well as McGill University’s Goodman Cancer Research Centre in Quebec.
The 3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF) bioprinter from nScrypt, a Florida-based 3D printing system manufacturer, and spaceflight equipment developer Techshot is set to launch on the International Space Station (ISS) next month.
Structo, a Singapore based dental 3D printer OEM has partnered with California based digital dentistry company uLab Systems to streamline the production of orthodontic clear aligners.
California-based institutions Transcriptic, a robotic cloud laboratory platform, and 3Scan, a digital 3D tissue model specialist, have announced a merger to form the company Strateos.
Korean biotechnology companies T&R Biofab and SCM Life Science are to collaborate on the R&D of new 3D printed tissue regenerative products. The two companies will focus on marketable cell patch products and new formulations for cell therapy.
Aleph Objects, the manufacturer of LulzBot open source 3D printers, has confirmed its entry into the 3D bioprinting market. In partnership with Massachusetts based 3D bioprinting technology developer FluidForm, Aleph plans to launch LulzBot Bio hardware later this year.
California-based medical 3D printing service bureau PrinterPrezz has partnered with UCSF Surgical Innovations, an incubator-accelerator for medtech innovators at UC San Francisco.
Belgian 3D printing software company Materialise has received FDA approval for Mimics Enlight, a 3D modeling software for planning cardiovascular surgery.
Global medical device company LimaCorporate has confirmed that it has started construction of its forthcoming on-site 3D printing facility at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York. First confirmed in January this year, the partners held a ground breaking ceremony at the site at the end of May. Building works are scheduled for completion by 2020, and the center itself is expected to be in operation early in the same year.
The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux (CHU de Bordeaux) has become one of the first hospitals in the world to add a Stratasys J750 to its facilities. Used by the surgical team at CHU de Bordeaux’s Department of Urology and Kidney Transplantation the system is being applied to fabricate full color, detailed organ models.
Belgian software and 3D printing service provider Materialise has acquired a 75 percent stake in Engimplan, a Brazil-based medical device manufacturer. In this agreement, Materialise will apply its medical 3D printing expertise to Engimplan’s device portfolio. Together, the two companies will work to accelerate the introduction of 3D printed medical implants and instruments to the Brazilian market.
3D-printed orthodontics have come a long way in the past three years, and Carbon and Candid’s new partnership to produce models for clear aligners that straighten teeth is grist for this mill. Carbon’s L1 printers and DLS process allow Candid to introduce Candid Pro, its “orthodontics-as-a-service” doctor-driven clear aligner therapy. This service offers customized, on-demand clear aligners designed specifically for dental and orthodontic practices. The entire service is delivered on Candid’s digital platform.
3D Systems significantly expanded its focus on regenerative medicine and bioprinting solutions after reducing its workforce to concentrate on the healthcare AM sector. The expanded focus follows on great progress made in the development of 3D printing systems for solid-organ scaffolds. This progress is the product of collaboration between 3D Systems, United Therapeutics Corporation and UTC’s organ manufacturing and transplantation-focused subsidiary, Lung Biotechnology PBC. 3D Systems intends to leverage this work and accomplishments with other partners to invest, further develop and commercialize solutions for regenerative medicine. Applications of its R&D program include the development of non-solid organ applications requiring biologically sustainable vasculature.
Thrive Orthopedics, a distribution enterprise founded in 2017, debuted its very own product line with 3D-printed orthoses called the Balance 3D+ Brace, an ankle foot orthoses (AFO). The brace reduces postural sway and increases postural stability. This relative newcomer to the AM scene has created an orthotic that lines the sole of one’s foot while also bracing the heel and calf for additional support. The company prides itself on the elegance and aesthetically pleasing look of its product. It also projects product prices in line with industry standards.
Lincotek Additive has taken another step in its development program by increasing its production capacity to meet customer demand. The company is adding further EOS M400-4 additive machines in its brand new, state-of-the-art Additive Production Center for the aerospace and industrial sectors in Switzerland and obtained EN9100:2018 certification for its quality management system.
Orthodontics company Candid has announced a partnership with 3D printer OEM Carbon to 3D print highly-customized clear dental aligner models.
One of the industries that benefit the most from Additive Manufacturing technologies is for sure the ...
Biomodex, a provider of 3D printed anatomical models for medical training purposes, has launched a new 3D printed training system for the transseptal puncture procedure.
Once thought destined mainly for prototyping, additive manufacturing is now increasingly employed in the development of spare parts, small series production and tooling in forward-thinking manufacturing industries such as aerospace, electronics, automotive and medical devices. Among industries at the forefront of innovative manufacturing, the medical sector has emerged as a major segment driving the growth of additive manufacturing: France’s 3D MedLab operates at the forefront of this segment
Nexa3D‘s ultra-fast NXE 400 3D printers will make all Keystone KeyPrint 3D printing resins for the global dental industry. This powerful new combination comes with Keystone’s best-in-class, FDA-cleared night guard resin, KeySplint Soft and KeyModel Ultra. All Keystone precision dental resins are manufactured in the USA, and available immediately through Nexa3D’s expanding global channels.
Swedish 3D bioprinter and materials developer CELLINK has announced the launch of BIO X6, a new six-printhead bioprinting system that allows the combination of multiple materials, cells and tools. It also features an intelligent exchangeable printhead system and CELLINK’s patented Clean Chamber Technology to enhance advanced research and clinical applications.
nAngioDerm, a regenerative medicine project partnered with Microlight3D, a French ultra-high-resolution 3D printer manufacturer, has received funding in the amount of €747,000 to aid the healing of wounds from ulcers or major burns.
FabRx, a British 3D printed pharmaceuticals company, has developed personalized medicine for children with the rare metabolic disorder, maple syrup urine disease (MSUD).
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, a network of medical centers under the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the University of Washington School (UW) of Medicine recently announced a two-year partnership aiming to advance medical 3D printing. Both organizations are collaborating to develop new applications for 3D printing in the diagnosis and treatment of complex heart conditions.
DePuy Synthes, a part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices group, has launched a new 3D printed titanium spine implant line. Named the CONDUIT Interbody Platform, the devices are the first release to use trademark technology from Germany’s Emerging Implant Technologies (EIT) since it was acquired by Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH in 2018.
The 2019 TCT Show in Birmingham is a wrap. Over the course of three days, a variety of engaging talks, panels, and presentations took place. On the final day, John Dargis, Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Research and Product Development at SmileDirectClub, a Nashville-based teledentistry company, took to the TCT Summit stage to discuss the company’s collaboration with HP.
Austrian ceramic 3D printer provider Lithoz has successfully installed two CeraFab 7500 machines at Plenum, a Brazilian medical device manufacturer. Entering a new geographical market with this sale, Dr. Johannes Homa, CEO of Lithoz, comments, “we are delighted to have such an innovative company as a first customer in this important market.
The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, and Shanghai-based researchers, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have received $300,000 to establish a 3D bioprinting research centre.
Leading 3D printer OEM 3D Systems has attained 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its VSP Orthopaedics platform. Offered exclusively through Onkos Surgical’s My3D™ Personalized Solutions Platform, VSP Orthopaedics is used for the virtual surgical planning of complex procedures. It can be combined with 3D Systems’ other areas of expertise to design and 3D print anatomical models and cutting guides for further surgical aid.
Leading 3D printer OEM Stratasys has released a medical upgrade to its award winning J750 system. The J750™ Digital Anatomy™ 3D printer, released to the public today, is made to for use by healthcare professionals. It is compatible with a new range of materials from Stratasys which are specifically designed to make anatomical models. Applied in pre-surgical planning, or for training, models made from these materials mimic the feel of live-tissue, providing surgeons with “a more realistic […] environment” and “no-risk setting” for practicing complex operations.
myReflection, a New Zealand-based medical start-up, is developing personalized breast prostheses for cancer patients post-mastectomy, using 3D scanning and 3D printed molds.
Multi award-winning 3D printer provider Markforged has announced that Shukla Medical, a surgical tool manufacturer, has used its Metal X system to 3D print surgical instrument prototypes, thereby cutting down the company’s yearly costs.
Qrons, a New York-based biotechnology start-up, has announced an Intellectual Property (IP) License Agreement with Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, to develop 3D printable implants to treat penetrating or traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Leading 3D printer OEM 3D Systems has announced a partnership with Antleron, a Belgium-based biotechnology company, to develop regenerative products for personalized patient care.
Surgeons at the Israeli Galilee Medical Center (GMC) have developed a novel 3D printing and Augmented Reality (AR)-based technique for treating eye socket fracture patients.
Denise Vicentin, a Brazilian cancer survivor who lost her right eye and part of her jaw, has received a facial prosthesis develop using a 3D printed prototype.
FossiLabs, a US-based medical 3D printing start-up, has announced the launch of its FFF 3D printed bone-like scaffolding structures using a porous PEEK material. Reportedly the first ‘fully’ porous 3D printed PEEK porous medical implants, the bone-like structures are designed to be used within implantable devices using Fossilabs’ proprietary hardware and software.
The impact of pandemic continued to dominate the headlines in the 3D printing industry during September. Whether it be the cancellation of industry events, or the efforts of additive manufacturers to help fight the disease, COVID-19 was never far from the news.
Biomedical researchers from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso) and The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are collaborating to develop artificial mini-hearts using 3D bioprinting technology for space.
Leading 3D printer OEM 3D Systems and Israeli bioprinting material developer CollPlant have announced a joint development agreement seeking to create tissue and scaffold bioprinting solutions for third party collaborators.
Walmart has partnered with SmileDirectClub, a Nashville-based teledentistry company that uses 3D printing to make aligners, to exclusively offer its line of oral care products.
3D printed patient-specific airway stents, developed by a doctor at Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center in Ohio, has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A worldwide collective of researchers and scientists from universities, institutions, and hospitals have come together to produce a roadmap for 3D bioprinting.
Researchers from the University of Toronto (UoT) and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre have developed a handheld device capable of 3D bioprinting sheets of skin that can heal burn wounds.
A payload containing 3D printed supplies for the 3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF) has arrived on board the International Space Station (ISS) docked 248 miles above the Earth’s surface. The cargo contained samples of human cells, bio-inks, and a set of new 3D printed ceramic fluid manifolds to replace the previously used printed polymers.
A 3D printed tumour designed and fabricated by 3D LifePrints, a UK-based medical technology company, has aided surgeons in the removal of a cancerous mass in six-year-old, Leah Bennett.
UPM, a Finnish alternative energy and material company, has launched a range of bioinks known as GrowInk, designed for various 3D bioprinting applications such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Researchers at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) in North Carolina have 3D bioprinted a microscopic model of the human body containing most of the vital organs. The miniature system will be used to detect potentially harmful effects of drugs before they are trialed with humans.
Merck, the global pharmaceutical company, has announced plans to work with AMCM, an EOS Group company that builds custom additive manufacturing machines. The two companies will work on developing and producing 3D printed tablets, first for clinical trials, then later for commercial manufacturing.
UK-based engineering technologies company, Renishaw, has announced a milestone in a medical study seeking to help sufferers with progressive nervous system disorder Parkinson disease. The study looks at a patented intraparenchymal drug delivery device and is the completion of a joint Phase 1-2 clinical study with pharmaceuticals expert Herantis Pharma.
Massachusetts-based SLA giant Formlabs has announced a partnership with BEGO, a German pioneer in dental 3D printing, that will see BEGO’s new leading dental materials being used with Formlabs’ resin printers.
Biomedical engineers from Rutgers University in New Jersey have developed a bio-ink for 3D printing that enables the construction of scaffolds to support growing human tissues. Significantly, the stiffness of the scaffolds can be controlled depending on the mixture of ink used, enabling applications for different types of tissues for repair or replacement.
With Italy now at the center of active Coronavirus cases, the country is in lockdown to combat the rapid spread of COVID-19. The large number of cases means that, inevitably, a huge strain has been placed on Italy’s healthcare system, and its supply chain.
Coherent, a powder bed fusion system manufacturer, and exocad, a dental CAD/CAM software developer, have announced a partnership that they believe will simplify and improve the digital workflow of dental professionals. The collaboration will see the development of a simple data interface between exocad’s DentalDB software and Coherent’s DENTAL COCKPIT slicer, making the production of metal dental restorations more efficient.
SouSmile, a direct to customer dental company, has raised $10M in Series A funding from a number of private investors, including Global Founders Capital, Kaszek Ventures and Canary. The newly secured capital brings the São Paulo-based company’s total funding to $11.4M.
A research team from the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has successfully scaled up the recycling of an important medical isotope using 3D printed parts. The new additively manufactured parts make the laboratory’s original recycling process – invented in 2015 – faster, more reliable and less costly, enabling the method to potentially be used on an industrial scale.
3D printed implant developer Osteopore has partnered with the National University of Singapore (NUS) spin-off Magloy Tech to commercialize its new OrthoMag bone graft product.
Chinese 3D printing technology startup Triastek has raised $15 million in Series A funding to accelerate the research and development of its 3D printed drugs.
Shanghai-based 3D printer manufacturer INTAMSYS has helped Swedish pharmaceutical firm ABIGO Medical keep its production line running by filling a delivery gap of spare parts with re-engineered 3D printed substitutes.
Lamborghini has directed its in-house 3D printing facilities to manufacture medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. The news comes after the Bologna-based supercar manufacturer’s home country became the center of the outbreak in Europe.
Canada-based Adaptiiv Medical Technologies has confirmed the sale of $1.8M of its shares in an equity offering. The $3M offering, which now has around $1.2M left to be sold, made its first sale on June 21, 2019. Adaptiiv expects the offering to last no more than a year.
German metal 3D printer manufacturer SLM Solutions has announced it has entered into a partnership with Canwell Medical, a medical device manufacturer based in China.
Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, the company behind the first FDA approved 3D printed drug Spritam, has announced a partnership with Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy to advance the technology and science of 3D pharmaceutical printing. Their collaboration will focus on developing future 3D printed pharmaceutical equipment and medications.
Sciperio, the research arm of micro-3D printing equipment manufacturer nScrypt, has announced a collaborative project to manufacture on-demand transfusion-safe human blood using nScrypt’s SmartPump technology.
Swiss dental resin manufacturer Saremco Dental AG has released a new photopolymer resin for 3D printed permanent restorations such as crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers. Prior to its release, the CROWNTEC resin was subjected to routine conformity assessment services and premarketing by global certification firm TÜV SÜD, a notified body according to the EU’s Medical Device Directive.
Leading sand and metal binder jet 3D printer manufacturer ExOne and the University of Pittsburgh are working together to develop reusable metal filters that fit into plastic respirator cartridges.
CLECELL, a Korean 3D bioprinting startup, has developed a respiratory epithelium model using its proprietary 3D bioprinting technology.
A research team from the US Air Force (UAF) has successfully produced a surgical retractor using 3D printing.
3D Sierra Leone, a dutch nonprofit organization, is providing customized 3D printed prostheses to patients in the West African country, with the support of SHINING 3D, a Hangzhou-headquartered 3D scanner and printer manufacturer.
Swiss medical company Medacta officially initiated the commercial use of 3DMetal Femoral Cones for revision knee arthroplasty after successfully receiving clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CE marking.
Microdispensing specialist nScrypt and aerospace company TechShot have successfully completed the first functional 3D bioprinting experiment in space. Using the BioFabrication Facility (BFF) on board the ISS, with the help of the non-profit Geneva Foundation and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), they 3D bioprinted a human knee meniscus as part of the 4D Bio3 program. The breakthrough experiment is part of a long term plan to one day manufacture advanced soft tissues and whole organs in the microgravity of space.
Graphy, a South Korean-based manufacturer of 3D printable photopolymer resins, has developed a dental 3D printing material brand, Tera Harz, with the aim of overcoming the limitations posed by other 3D printable materials currently used within the dental sector. Graphy CEO Unseob Sim said, “Graphy’s advanced technology has to date attracted investment of $15 million.”
German 3D printer manufacturer Rapid Shape has released a new DLP machine that’s specifically designed to cater for the needs of clients in the dental industry.
3D printer manufacturer Formlabs has added two new materials to its dental portfolio: a Permanent Crown Resin and a Soft Tissue Starter Pack.
The Medical University of Vienna is set to lead a five year European project which will see the development of a partly 3D printed mobile ophthalmic (eye-related) imaging device. The engineers and scientists working on the handheld device aim to minitiarize photonic chip technology, bringing down its cost in the process. The project partners hope that by the end of the five years, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) will no longer be bound to a stationary clinical setting, but will instead be capable of fitting into a jacket pocket.
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.
A team from the Massachusetts-based Smith College has won the Covent-19 Challenge design contest with its novel “Smithvent” partially-3D printed ventilator.
Former professional boxer Mike Tyson’s business, The Ranch Companies, has obtained a global license for 3D printing edible cannabis products.
Munich-based chemical company Linde Group has partnered with clinical printing specialist 3D Medlab, to research optimizing atmospheric conditions within the 3D printing process.
Medical device manufacturing firm Exactech is transitioning the manufacturing process of its Equinoxe Stemless Shoulder to laser based additive manufacturing.
3D printed ophthalmic lens specialist Luxexcel has revealed that it has now fabricated over 50,000 prescription lenses.
Spanish football club FC Barcelona’s R&D lab, Barça Innovation Hub, has joined the EU-backed ‘TRIANKLE’ project to help test its upcoming 3D bioprinted cell-restoring ankle implants.
Researchers from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have developed 3D printed stents that could ease the symptoms of esophagitis in radiotherapy patients.
Researchers from the Korea-based Chungbuk National University have developed low-cost personalized artificial eyes for canines that have lost theirs to incurable diseases.
Researchers from the Korea-based Asan Medical Center have 3D printed surgical guides that could help cancer patients to retain more of their breasts after surgery.
Researchers from the New York-based Clarkson University have developed a custom bioink and deployed it to create a range of skin-compatible 3D printed biosensors.
Japanese video game developer Konami has teamed up with the prosthetic limb designer Open Bionic, to launch a 3D printed bionic arm inspired by the Metal Gear Solid (MGS) video game character Venom Snake.
Scientists from the Skolovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have developed a novel method of 3D printing personalized ceramic bone implants.
Biotechnology firm United Therapeutics and Israeli bioprinting firm CollPlant have broadened their partnership to enter into the serial manufacturing of 3D printed kidneys.
Using 3D printers, researchers have collaborated from around the globe to develop nanoclay-based 3D bioprinted scaffolds which could be used to aid skeletal regeneration.
Canadian 3D bioprinting company Aspect Biosystems has launched a new grant program whereby the selected applicants will be supplied with the company’s proprietary RX1 bioprinters.
Researchers from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have discovered 3D printed biodegradable magnesium scaffolds could have promising applications in the regeneration of critical-sized bone defects.
3D printing service provider PrintParts has partnered with automated post-processing developer PostProcess Technologies to rapidly-produce COVID-19 testing swabs in New York City (NYC).
A project led by academics at the University of Sheffield and the University of the Arts London (UAL) has received £766,675 of government funding to scale up its delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) to refugees living in Jordan’s Zaatari camp.
Pharmaceutical 3D printing specialist FabRx has produced orodispersible 3D printed tablets, called Printlets, which are designed with Braille and Moon patterns on the surface to aid medicine taking for patients with visual impairment.
Global engineering technologies company, Renishaw, has concluded the extension component of its phase 1-2 clinical study, carried out jointly with pharmaceuticals expert Herantis Pharma, which investigated the safety and performance of its neuroinfuse drug delivery device and cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF), as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
South Korean pharmaceutical company HK inno.N has announced plans to use artificial 3D printed skin to test new autoimmune and skin disorder drugs.
China-based orthopedic implant manufacturer AK Medical has added eight GE Arcam EBM Q10plus 3D printers to its fleet, citing a rising demand for implants across the country. The company has been using EBM (Electron Beam Melting) technology since 2009, working closely with a range of clinical and R&D experts to standardize and certify additively manufactured medical devices in China. Moving forward, AK has stated that it will focus its efforts on 3D printing while expanding beyond just additively manufactured bone joints.
An academic team from the University of the West of England’s Center for Fine Print Research (CFPR) is using 3D printing to produce realistic organs for use in surgical training.
Global reinsurance business Munich Re and technology research firm Fraunhofer have awarded €1m as part of a competition to 3D print medical devices for COVID-19 sufferers.
Stratasys enhanced its J750 printer to enable printing ultra-realistic bone models, which may be used in biomedical training and research. The printer can now mimic porous bone structures, fibrotic tissue, and ligaments so medical professionals can create models that behave just like human bone. The company has relied heavily on clinical research to enhance its product.
Ever since users and groups of people began using 3D printing to make prosthetics more affordable we’ve been waiting for a time when these easily iterable devices would evolve from prosthetic limbs into bionic limbs. The startup Open Bionics was likely founded upon this objective and over time it has come closer to achieving it. With the release of the official Metal Gear Solid prosthetic/bionic version of its Hero Arm, it’s definitely getting closer.
A coalition of Quebec public investors launched a 3D anatomical reconstruction laboratory, dubbed LARA 3D. This unique infrastructure that gives Québec leading-edge equipment and advanced expertise for the manufacture of patient-specific implantable prostheses thanks to the use of 3D imaging, modelling and manufacturing technologies. The investors, Investissement Québec and Laval University, have invested over $8 million in the laboratory.
3D Systems, one of the oldest additive manufacturing companies, announced that the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its Vantage Ankle PSI for medical use. The product is a collection of patient-specific total ankle surgical planning and 3D printed instruments that guides resections in the tibia and talus for total ankle replacement surgery. 3D Systems paired its product with Exactech’s Vantage Total Ankle System to increase operation room efficiency and reliability. The product will also help preserve soft tissues around the affected joint. The system is in a pilot launch, with full market availability projected to occur in late 2021.
Anouk Wipprecht‘s done it again. The international designer’s latest high profile collaboration brings together prosthetics maker Össur and videogame publisher Ubisoft France and the Just Dance team. Working out of the Össur workshop in Orlando with Michael Tuttle of Össur, Anouk created a prosthetic arm for Angelina Bruno, a dancer who is currently working for the Just Dance videogame team. She made her first appearance in Just Dance 2021 on the song ‘Blinding Lights’ by artist The Weekend.
Dimension Inx raised $3.175 million to close its series seed financing round. The next-generation biofabrication company was notably supported by KdT Ventures, with Better Ventures and Revolution’s Rise also participating in the seed funding round.
The Veterans Health Administration signed a contract with 3D Systems in South Carolina to build ...
A few years ago, Syqe Medical, an Israeli drug delivery company, manufactured a 3D printed medic ...
Since its foundation over twenty years ago in Italy’s biomedical valley near Modena, Tsunami Medical has continued to evolve and grow its business in response to the market dynamics of the ever-changing global medical implants sector. Now the company is further investing in AM with four new Mlab systems from GE Additive.
Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) parts are used extensively in a multitude of fields in the medical indu ...
Spanish bioprinting company REGEMAT 3D opened a crowdfunding round through Crowdcube that attracted its minimum investment target in seven days. The company sought 300 000 euros to fund its international expansion. The funding round continues until it reaches three million euros, which the company hopes to achieve through its multiple sources funding action plan. This plan looks to raise money from large and small private and public sources. Some of the funding will be obtained through soft loans.
Recent innovations have consolidated the strong position of Prodways‘ MOVINGLight technology in the dental market and more specifically in the fast-growing segment of orthodontic aligners. Initially launched in the United States, this market is also developing in Europe. Thus, the Polish company Brightalign, specialized in the manufacture of these orthodontic products, has just increased its production capacities with the simultaneous purchase of 2 MOVINGLight ProMaker LD 20 machines, after having already purchased two Prodways machines of previous generations. This order confirms the growing development of this application of 3D printing for production. This is the largest of all 3D printing technologies.
Braskem teamed up with e-NABLE, a global community of digital humanitarian volunteers who print hands and arms for those in need, in a philanthropic venture. The company is using its Pittsburgh Innovation and Technology Center to print polypropylene prosthetic upper limbs.
Structo, the Singapore-based provider of 3D printing solutions focusing on high-speed and dental applications, has appointed Desmond Lim as their new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Desmond brings over 30 years of experience in executive and board leadership roles across various disciplines, ranging from multinationals to private/venture equity portfolio companies. Following this announcement, Founding CEO Huub van Esbroeck has been named Structo’s new Head of R&D.
Additive manufacturing bolsters local industries that need high-precision parts. The early months of the current pandemic strained global supply chains when such parts were needed most, particularly in medical applications. TÜV SÜD, a company that facilitates technology-driven change, has responded to this challenge by creating checklists that assist companies with retooling to produce high-grade medical parts.
A new COVID-19 antibody detection device developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, capable of identifying the antibodies within 10 to 15 seconds, is now entering a trial stage with COVID patients. The innovative system consists of a low-cost sensor made up of tiny gold electrodes 3D printed using Optomec’s Aerosol Jet technology.
Syqe Medical Ltd., an Israel-based pharmaceutical company specializing in medicinal cannabis inhaler devices, is now the proud owner of a J55 3D printer, a new office-friendly, multi-material 3D printer launched by Stratasys this past April. The company will use the compact machine to streamline and accelerate the design process for its inhalers.
At 3dpbm we’ve been reporting on newly proposed solutions for 3D printing custom casts. As an application, it makes total sense. However, neither the printing technology nor the data capturing, nor the 3D model editing, nor the possible adopters have been ready to actually implement it. Now Spanish-British firm Xkelet may have a real solution that integrates a mobile App, AI, and an ultra-fast 3D printer developed in collaboration with Photocentric, to make this – and numerous other medical applications – viable to be 3D printed, even in real-time and – when needed – on-location.
In what is quite a timely announcement with our own own Dental AM Focus, materials company Henkel and Keystone Industries, a specialist in dental industry, are partnering to develop additive manufacturing solutions for the dental sector. The agreement will be mutually beneficial, enabling Henkel to add dental 3D printing applications to its portfolio and Keystone to scale its AM dental offering.
Metal powder manufacturer Sandvik has obtained ISO 13485:2016 medical certification for its titanium powder plant in Sweden. The state-of-the-art facility, which was inaugurated in October 2019, can now supply Osprey titanium powders for medical additive manufacturing applications, like 3D printed implants.
The new drug delivery system developed by global engineering company Renishaw has been successfully ...
Sartori, a Brazil-based manufacturer of orthopedic implants and instruments, invested in selective laser melting technology from SLM Solutions. With the acquisition of a new SLM®280 the company is taking an important step in successfully implementing additive manufacturing in the healthcare sector in Brazil and addresses the expected growth in demand of high-quality and economical medical devices in the market.
No longer is it necessary to be saddled with bracket and wire braces for consecutive years in order to achieve a straighter smile: people around the world can correct their teeth alignment using customized clear aligners, which are not only much more discrete, but can be removed without professional intervention. The growing adoption of clear aligners—the market was reportedly worth over $2 billion in 2019—is due in no small part to 3D printing, a technology which has enabled orthodontic labs and specialist companies to achieve customization on a mass scale.
In just two years, a robotic device that directly prints a patient's own skin cells on a burn or wou ...
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking process that enables multi-material 3D printing of reali ...
EnvisionTEC is introducing the new D4K Pro Dental, the highest resolution 4K desktop 3D printer specifically for the dental segment. The D4K Pro from EnvisionTEC includes the fastest print speed for a standard DLP printer (intended as non-continuous). As such it can deliver extremely accurate parts with the finest detail available.
In court hearings, jurors must fully understand the case so that they can make the most informed dec ...
3D printed surgical guides and virtual surgical planning (VSP) have been used in many types of surge ...
Although 3D printing provides many users with the ability to create and innovate new designs and pro ...
As we all know, additive manufacturing a.k.a. 3D printing can change many industries. However, the u ...
Though you’d be hard pressed to find a person that hasn’t heard about COVID-19, much is still not known about the virus, especially about its long-term effects on the human body. As part of ongoing research into how the virus will impact patients that have recovered from it, Axial3D and the respiratory team at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust have reproduced a scale 3D lung model of a COVID-19 patient using 3D printing.
In China, AK Medical is a leading manufacturer of joint prosthetic devices and, interestingly, it was also the first company to receive approval for the implementation of metal 3D printed implants in China by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Today, medical device company has scaled up its production of orthopedic implants thanks to a fleet of eight GE Additive Arcam EBM systems.
Materials science engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are developing a new, 3D printed artery graft (artificial blood vessel) that allows doctors and patients to keep tabs on its health remotely. The implantable vessel, made of a flexible composite and capable of real-time monitoring, is described in a new study published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials by UW–Madison professor Xudong Wang and graduate student Jun Li.
Scientists at the University of Minnesota have 3D printed a beating heart muscle "pump" composed of ...
Ireland-based medical device manufacturer Medtronic has announced its intention to acquire France-based Medicrea, a company specializing in the production of patient-specific spinal implants using artificial intelligence and predictive modeling. The companies have entered into a tender offer agreement for Medtronic to purchase all outstanding Medicrea shares (at a price of €7 per share). The deal seems to be moving ahead without issue, as the Boards of Directors of both sides have approved.Once the acquisition of Medicrea goes through, Medtronic will be better positioned to offer its customers state-of-the-art spinal surgery solutions, complementing its own offering of spinal implants, robotics and 3D imaging technology with Medicrea’s AI-driven, custom implants. Medicrea also has an advanced manufacturing facility in Lyon, France dedicated to the development and production of 3D printed titanium patient-specific implants.
Lincotek Additive, the AM division of Italian global contract manufacturer Lincotek, is opening a new state-of-the-art Additive Production Center at its site in Trento. The facility, which houses a high-vacuum furnace and validated heat treatment process for titanium 3D printed parts, will be dedicated to the development and production of medical devices.
Brazilian cancer survivor Denise Vicentin has lost part of his right eye and chin and has accepted f ...
Realize Medical, a Canadian VR-based medical 3D modeling company, has announced a new partnership with Swiss computer and software company Logitech. The companies will work together to further develop Realize Medical’s Elucis platform, the first program developed specifically for designing patient-specific 3D medical models directly in a virtual reality environment.
German pharmaceutical giant Bayer has signed a cooperation agreement to test new drugs on human hear ...
SLA 3D printing company Formlabs has announced the launch of six new resins for its Form 3, Form 3B and Form 2 3D printers. The resins expand the scope of applications for the company’s AM technology in several industries, including healthcare, dental and engineering.
A team of scientists are developing a new type of customized 3D printed insole that can benefit diabetes patients suffering from foot ulcers. The insoles, developed at Staffordshire University in the UK, integrate optimized cushioning stiffness to improve foot health.
MT Ortho, an Italian company with decades of experience in the traditional prostheses market, was also among the first to truly embrace the potential of 3D printing for prosthetic production. The company’s journey with 3D printing began in 2014, when it acquired two GE Additive Arcam Electron Beam Melting (EBM) machines (obviously, at the time they were simply Arcam EBM machines), and employed Simone Di Bella, a recent engineering graduate with additive manufacturing expertise.
Australian researchers Ben Searle and Deborah Starkey from Queensland University of Technology are b ...
REJOINT, an Italy-based medical implant manufacturing company, is leveraging state-of-the-art technologies like GE Additive‘s Electron Beam Melting (EBM) 3D printing and IoT-connected sensorized wearables to offer mass customization and therapy personalization. The offering is specifically targeted at the production of patient-specific knee implants for arthroplasty.
San Francisco company Origin is one of a handful of 3D printing companies that set out to develop and mass produce 3D printed nasopharyngeal testing swabs for COVID-19 diagnosis. This effort was a direct response to a lack of conventional swabs; stores of the traditional swabs, only produced by a select group of companies around the globe, were rapidly depleted as countries around the world ramped up COVID-19 testing.
There is an ongoing need to continue COVID-19 tests around the world, to track how the virus is still spreading and to prevent more major outbreaks. As we learned this week, 3D printing not only has a role to play in the production of medical-grade swabs for COVID-19 diagnostics, but it can also help to train non-medical workers to administer the tests, so that they can be scaled up. Singapore-based Creatz3D recently unveiled a 3D printed manikin designed specifically for COVID-19 swab training, and now French company BONE 3D is also stepping up with its own testing model.
An Israeli anesthesia team recently used 3D printing and virtual reality technology to create an acc ...
AM finishing solutions provider PostProcess Technologies Inc. has teamed up with one of North America’s largest orthodontic laboratories, Great Lakes Dental Technologies, to advance automated finishing process for custom 3D printed dental products.
As the world continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic, testing is still one of the most important ways that the virus will be understood and contained until a vaccine is developed. As we’ve seen, 3D printing has been used to help meet the demand for nasopharyngeal swabs to ramp up testing. However, there is another lack that we had not accounted for: swabbers.
To accelerate the transition from preclinical studies with laboratory animals to clinical studies with humans, specialists at the biotechnological research laboratory 3D Bioprinting Solutions (3DBio) developed a method for the scalable production of 3D spheroids in the quantities necessary to accurately determine the specific activity of pharmacological molecules in the body of COVID-19 infected patients, thus accelerating the discovery process for anti-COVID-19 drugs.
BIOMODEX, a digital health company that offers a 3D printed solution for patient-specific rehearsal and physician training, elected Karl Schweitzer as Chair of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. He succeeds Francois Thomas, who has served as Board Chair since 2019 and who will remain a member of the board.
Starting in May 2020, 3D LifePrints is providing a remote 3D modeling service for the Leeds General Infirmary NHS Paediatric cardiology team. This service will enable the team to visualize 3D rendered patient anatomy, derived from CT and MRI imaging for complex cases, and 3D print selected models on site.
The assistant professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Humanities and Sciences ha ...
Chemical company Evonik has debuted a new 3D printing filament: the first medical-grade PEEK material that can be used for implant production and other medical applications. The high performance filament, called VESTAKEEP i4 3DF, meets the requirements of ASTM F2026, the standard specification for PEEK polymers for implants.
Writing about 3D printing technologies, we come across a lot of inspiring moments: we’ve seen how ...
3D printing company Formlabs has not been idle since the novel coronavirus was declared a pandemic. The company has used its resources to support COVID-19 relief efforts with face shields, nasal swabs and more. Most recently, Formlabs revealed it has been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA to 3D print adapters which can convert BiPAP machines into much-needed ventilator systems. The company says it has the capacity to produce up to 3,000 3D printed adapters a day, which can be deployed to hospitals treating critically ill COVID-19 patients.
In recent years, the application of 3D printing technology has gradually developed from the initial ...
German additive manufacturing company Rapid Shape has announced a partnership with dental manufacturer VOCO, also based in Germany. The companies are combining their capabilities—including 3D printing systems and dental-grade materials—to offer their customers more freedom and flexibility when choosing what materials to work with. In short, the companies will work to qualify more dental materials for additive manufacturing.
As one of the largest supercar maker, Ferrari has begun to generate respirator valves and fittings ...
Researchers are exploring 3D printed mandibular models will help provide by exploring the technolo ...
Mobility goes Additive, a broad AM network based in Germany, has issued a call for help on behalf of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V, a voluntary humanitarian organization that provides first responder services in Germany. The group is reportedly in need of protective equipment for its 23,000 members of staff and 40,000 volunteers.
San Franciso startup Origin is the latest company to reveal it has been working on 3D printed nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing. The company recently announced that its 3D printed swab design successfully underwent an initial clinical evaluation for human factors, materials testing and PCR compatibility. The evaluation is being done in collaboration with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), which is also working with a handful of other 3D printing companies in the development and deployment of 3D printed test swabs.
3D printing company EnvisionTEC has taken a significant step ahead in the development of 3D printed nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing. It has just announced that it has successfully completed a clinical trial for the testing swabs and, along with several of its FDA-registered customers, will begin producing up to 1 million swabs per day using the Envision One cDLM platform.
We have discovered that coral reefs around the globe are perishing due to the acidity of seawater an ...
American filament firm 3D Printlife has announced it is donating 4,000 kg of PLA to encourage the cr ...
Prisma Health is collaborating with Ethicon Inc., part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, to make and distribute a ventilator expansion device, called the VESper™ Ventilator Expansion Splitter. The VESper Ventilator Expansion Splitter is authorized for emergency use only to allow a single ventilator to be fitted with the Ventilator Splitter to be used for two rescuable patients for ventilatory support during the COVID-19 pandemic until individual ventilators are available.
Massachusetts-based 3D printing company Markforged has just announced a partnership with optical equipment provider Neurophotometrics (NPM) to produce 3D printed nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 diagnostic testing. The swab design, called Fiberflex Rayon, reportedly detected the virus in all patients tested, while commercial swabs reported false negatives. Markforged says it is now producing 10,000 nasal swabs per day and plans to scale production up to 100,000 per day.
FabRx Ltd., a biotech spin-out from University College London (UCL) in the UK, has announced the availability of its M3DIMAKER system, the first pharmaceutical 3D printer developed for the production of customized medicine. The system was first unveiled in Switzerland in September 2019 at the ILMAC Exhibition and now, after extensive testing, it is ready for the market.
On November 19, 2019, the world's largest 3D printing professional exhibition, FORMNEXT, was held ...
As has quickly become apparent in the fight against COVID-19, one of the critical factors in stemming the spread of the virus and understanding its reach is widespread testing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has promoted testing in its guidance to governments, but on the ground many countries have struggled to scale up testing operations to the point required. One of the key inhibitors to adopting more broad testing is a lack of supplies, including test kits and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
All aspects of daily life are slowly but surely affecting by COVID-19. For many countries, ...
The imminent shortage of ventilators for U.S. hospitals is most probably already a crisis, but may b ...
Intrepid 3D printing firms and those who wish to print masks, gowns and other personal protective eq ...
Our friends at Polish 3D printing media portal CentrumDruku3D reported on the story of – and introduced us – to Przemysław Stachura, who came up with the design of a 3D printed adapter for DAR filter to transform a 3M mask into a special type of PPE. The model [available here to download] quickly caught the attention of paramedics in Poland and other nations, who expressed a desire to test and use it
COVID-19 is a high infectivity virus that is mainly transmitted through droplets released into the air by coughing or sneezing. To prevent infection in highly contaminated hospital environments, medical workers who are in close contact with patients must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, and respiratory systems to prevent infections transmitted through the nose and mouth. In addition to the safety PPE equipment listed above, other critical protection equipment are safety goggles. These are just as important as masks in protecting medical personnel against infection.
At the beginning of March, an overwhelmed hospital in Brescia, Italy raised the alarm that they were ...
At the beginning of February, the epidemic was fierce in China. Many factories are temporarily close ...
Many 3D printing companies are stepping up in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic, offering up their capabilities to overcome hurdles in existing supply chains. Among them is HP Inc., which today announced that it is mobilizing its 3D printing teams and resources to produce and deliver critical parts to help hospitals around the world to treat patients and protect staff.
Engineers and designers from Poland-based Urbicum have banded together to launch the VentilAid project, an effort to design an open-source ventilator which can be reproduced using a 3D printer and an assembly of basic, easily accessible parts. The open-source ventilator is being designed to help medical professionals in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in cases where more traditional hospital resources are limited or exhausted.
Mogassam, a Delaware-based 3D printer manufacturer, has released DentCase, a DLP 3D printer designed for the dental industry. The system offers a complete workflow, with integrated dental CAM software and post-curing system. The machine is currently being showcased at the International Dental Show (IDS) 2019 in Cologne, which takes place from the 12th to the 16th March. Explaining its goals, the company has stated:
The alliance (which our Spanish language sister website reported on just a few days ago) between the Consorci de la Zona Franca (CZFB), HP, Leitat (Technological Center) together with CatSalut, through the Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (CST) and the Hospital Parc Taulí de Sabadell, have developed the first industrialized field 3D printed emergency respiration device* to support hospitals and ICUs. The device is a mechanical bag valve mask (BVM) that can be used for short term emergency ventilation of COVID-19 patients.
Dr. Tarek Loubani, a Canadian emergency room doctor, has taken it upon himself to produce 3D printed face shields for his fellow front-line medical workers across the country. This is not the first time that Dr. Loubani has used his interest in 3D printing for good: the doctor actually started a medical supplies charity in to provide low-cost medical devices and supplies to conflict zones, such as Gaza.
The world of 3D printing doesn’t stop. In fact, if anything, it has accelerated. 3D LifePrints UK Ltd, one of the UK’s leading medical 3D printing organizations, has recently closed an investment round of £1.2M led by Fenwall Investments. The investment will be used to rapidly expand 3D LifePrints’ existing foothold in the UK’s medical sector and overseas and follows on from previous investment in 2017 and 2018.
Based in Milan, Italy, Shapemode has been providing prototyping, sales and assistance for DWS brand SLA technology 3D printers, for several years. Now Shapemode also distributes Sisma 3D printers, including the Everes DLP technology-based 3D printers for the jewelry and dental segments.
Many have been asking what the implications of the current COVID-19 pandemic are going to be on additive manufacturing as an industry. The relationship between coronavirus and 3D printing is not entirely clear, mostly because we are very far from understanding what the long, medium and even short terms implications of the pandemic are going to be on global supply chains.
[Update April 17, 2020] ASME has announced it is rescheduling and adjusting its AM Medical event. The group has secured dates for the LIVE event in fall 2020 and will host a virtual AM Medical all-day event on May 27, 2020. ASME will also be launching a series of biweekly webinars.
A joint team of researchers from Rensselaer, Northwestern University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has developed a methodology that could improve the treatment of aggressive glioblastoma brain tumors. The process, which combines medical imaging and bioprinting technologies, can help scientists to better understand the complex structure of the tumor type.
3DP4ME is a US non-profit operating in the Middle East. Its mission is to serve real human needs with practical 3D printing (AM) applications. The first project, titled The Hearing Express, will be located in Jordan and focused on providing hearing aids to young people.
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus: Medical. For the entire month of February, we highlighted the many possibilities that additive manufacturing provides to medical companies today. In this last article of the series, we’re looking at global manufacturer Lincotek, an Italian-headquartered company with a strong foothold in medical additive manufacturing. Upcoming articles in the AM Focus will span innovative startups to giant multinational corporations, all of which are using AM in exciting ways. All the best content is featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Our AM Focus Medical zooms in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this episode, we are taking a closer look at the latest Medtronic additive manufacturing activities. Upcoming episodes will include many different types of players in this segment, ranging from highly innovative startups to giant multinational corporations. At the end of the month, all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus Medical. For the entire month of February, we are going to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this episode, we look at Boston Scientific additive manufacturing and how one of the largest medical companies in the world is working with some of the smallest metal 3D printed components ever created. More episodes are still to come. At the end of the month, all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Pharmaceutical company Merck and German custom additive manufacturing specialist AMCM (sister company of EOS) have announced a collaboration through which they will develop 3D printed tablet formulations. The partnership aims to create a tablet 3D printing process that conforms to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards for clinical trials and, eventually, for commercial manufacturing services.
According to the WHO, 37.9 million people around the world were living with HIV at the e ...
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus: Medical. For the entire month of February, we are going to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this article, we’re looking at Medical 3D Design, a 3D modeling company using 3D printing to create prototypes and functional parts for the medical and dental industries. Upcoming articles in the AM Focus will span innovative startups to giant multinational corporations, all of which are using AM in exciting ways. At the end of the month all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
As the number of reported Coronavirus cases rises around the world, regions affected by the virus are taking serious measures to contain its spread. At the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, students and faculty from the 3D Printing Lab are reportedly playing their part by 3D printing medical face shields designed to protect medical staff.
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus: Medical. For the entire month of February, we’ve been zooming in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this article, we’re turning our heads toward OssDsign, a Swedish cranioplasty specialist making titanium 3D printed implants. Upcoming articles in the AM Focus will continue to span from innovative startups to giant multinational corporations, all of which are using AM in exciting ways. At the end of the month, all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
For our AM Focus Medical this month we continue to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. Next up in our series is GE Healthcare additive manufacturing. Supported by GE’s significant investments in its additive manufacturing, the Healthcare division is now taking significant steps toward serial medical part production through facilities in Sweden and in the US. Upcoming episodes will continue to include many different types of players in this segment, ranging from highly innovative startups and SMEs to giant multinational corporations. At the end of the month, all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus: Medical. For the entire month of February, we are going to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this article, we’re looking at MT Ortho srl, a medical device company using additive manufacturing to create titanium implants. Upcoming articles in the AM Focus will span innovative startups to giant multinational corporations, all of which are using AM in exciting ways. At the end of the month all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Formlabs has announced a partnership with Germany-based BEGO, a manufacturer of prosthodontics and implants for the dental industry. Together, the partners aim to bring temporary and permanent 3D printed crowns and bridges to market for dental applications.
France-based industrial manufacturing company Prodways has announced a new partnership agreement with 3DBioCAD, a dental supply company based in Renton, Washington. Through the agreement, 3DBioCAD has become Prodways’ first Dental Value-Added reseller in the United States.
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus: Medical. For the entire month of February, we are going to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this article, we’re giving you a dose of FabRx, a pharmaceutical biotech company that develops pharmaceutical 3D printers and 3D printed tablets. Upcoming articles in the AM Focus will span innovative startups to giant multinational corporations, all of which are using AM in exciting ways. At the end of the month all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
The medical AM segment is multifaceted, consisting of 3D printed medical devices, anatomical models, prosthetics and more. Within the industry, bioprinting has carved out a prominent position, gaining interest across the board for its huge potentials in drug development and screening, therapeutic treatments and regenerative medicine, to name but a few. While much of the excitement surrounding bioprinting is focused on the future—what it could do—we want to look at what is happening now in the field that is exciting.
3dpbm’s AM Focus Medical continues to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. We are now taking a closer look at Zimmer Biomet additive manufacturing, which includes the global distribution (exclusive in the US) of unique PEKK 3D printed implants by Oxford Performance Materials. In the previous episodes, we looked at other giants such as Stryker, J&J and Lima Corporate as well as interesting SMEs and startups. Upcoming episodes will continue to include many different types of players in this segment, ranging from highly innovative startups and SMEs to giant multinational corporations. At the end of the month, all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
The medical AM segment is multifaceted, consisting of 3D printed medical devices, anatomical models, prosthetics and more. Within the industry, bioprinting has carved out a prominent position, gaining interest across the board for its huge potentials in drug development and screening, therapeutic treatments and regenerative medicine, to name but a few. While much of the excitement surrounding bioprinting is focused on the future—what it could do—we want to look at what is happening now in the field that is exciting.
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus: Medical. For the entire month of February, we are going to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this article, we investigate Lazarus 3D, a specialist in soft 3D printed medical models that can be cut and sutured just like real organs. Upcoming articles in the AM Focus will span innovative startups to giant multinational corporations, all of which are using AM in exciting ways. At the end of the month all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
The medical AM segment is multifaceted, consisting of 3D printed medical devices, anatomical models, prosthetics and more. Within the industry, bioprinting has carved out a prominent position, gaining interest across the board for its huge potentials in drug development and screening, therapeutic treatments and regenerative medicine, to name but a few. While much of the excitement surrounding bioprinting is focused on the future, we want to look at what is happening now in the field that is exciting.
3DCERAM-SINTO‘s advanced ceramics 3D printing technology will be used in the European project H2020 NEXIS to develop the next generation of X-ray imaging systems. The project, dubbed NEXIS (Next Generation X-ray Imaging System) consists in a photonics driven breakthrough in image quality and functionality of an interventional X-ray system that will allow performing stroke diagnosis directly in the interventional suite. This could have a significant impact in terms of enhanced workflows, reduced diagnosis & treatment time (up to 50% time reduction) saving more lives and reducing healthcare costs.
For our AM Focus Medical this month we continue to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. We are now taking a closer look at the impact on this segment from Johnson & Johnson additive manufacturing activities. In the previous episodes, we looked at one of the largest companies to operate in this segment, like Stryker and Lima as well as interesting SMEs and startups, like Osseus and FabRx. Upcoming episodes will continue to include many different types of players in this segment, ranging from highly innovative startups and SMEs to giant multinational corporations. At the end of the month all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
A team of engineers from Rutgers University – New Brunswick is developing 4D printed needles which could take the pain out of drug injections, vaccinations and blood sampling. The innovative microneedles were inspired by certain types of parasites that attach themselves to the hosts skin.
The medical AM segment is multifaceted, consisting of 3D printed medical devices, anatomical models, prosthetics and more. Within the industry, bioprinting has carved out a prominent position, gaining interest across the board for its huge potentials in drug development and screening, therapeutic treatments and regenerative medicine, to name but a few. While much of the excitement surrounding bioprinting is focused on the future, we want to look at what is happening now in the field that is exciting.
For our AM Focus Medical this month we continue to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. We are now taking a closer look at Lima Corporate additive manufacturing activities. In the previous episodes, we looked at one of the largest companies to operate in this segment, Stryker, Texas-based Osseus, a very dynamic young medical AM firm. Upcoming episodes will continue to include many different types of players in this segment, ranging from highly innovative startups and SMEs to giant multinational corporations. Stay tuned: at the end of the month, all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Bioprinting company T&R Biofab has announced a new collaboration agreement with Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Medical Device Company. The aim of the partnership is to develop a 3D bioprinted soft tissue scaffold for wound treatments, reconstructive surgery and more.
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus: Medical. For the entire month of February, we are going to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. In this article, Matthew R. Jorgensen, PhD, DABT, Chemistry and Materials Scientist at Nelson Labs, explains how testing 3D printed medical devices verifies biocompatibility in an industry where safety is paramount. Nelson Labs is the leading global provider of laboratory testing and expert advisory services for MedTech and pharmaceutical companies, and Dr. Jorgensen has expertise in areas such as the fabrication of structures with micro- and nano-patterning. Upcoming articles in the AM Focus will cover the medical segment from all angles, featuring highly innovative startups and giant multinational corporations. At the end of the month all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Welcome to this month’s AM Focus Medical. For the entire month of February, we are going to zoom in on the many possibilities that additive manufacturing is offering today to medical companies. This segment of AM is literally booming and incredibly exciting. In this first episode, we are taking a closer look at Stryker additive manufacturing activities. Upcoming episodes will include many different types of players in this segment, ranging from highly innovative startups to giant multinational corporations. Stay tuned because it’s going to be a lot to take in. But don’t worry, at the end of the month all the best content will be featured in 3dpbm’s Medical AM Focus 2020 eBook.
Chemical company Henkel has announced a collaboration with NewPro3D, a Vancouver-based polymer 3D ...
Texas-based 3D printing company Essentium, Inc. is teaming up with Vorum, a provider of CAD/CAM software for custom orthotics and prosthetics (O&P), to offer a 3D printing solution for the global O&P market. The offering, the Essentium + Vorum solution, will be available to customers across the prosthetics market, enabling practitioners to manufacture and deliver customized orthotic and prosthetic devices to their customers, at speed and scale.
GE Healthcare Life Sciences has opened a new additive manufacturing center in Umeå, Sweden, which will be used for the serial production of components for biomanufacturing equipment.
MedTech3D and Axial3D, two medical technology companies with a focus on 3D printin ...
Based on Nanoscribe’s micro and nano 3D printing technology, scientists developed a 3D microscaffold cochlear implant for steroid elution. For the first time, scientists combined a highly precise, porous 3D printed steroid reservoir with a 2D MEMS-based electrode array to fabricate a novel cochlear implant. This implant is designed to reduce the damage of residual hearing against electrode insertion trauma.
A team from the University of Lincoln in the UK are developing the first toddler-sized myoelectric prosthetic. The medical device, called SIMPA (Soft-Grasp Infant Myoelectric Prosthetic Arm), is made using 3D printing, which allows for dramatic cost reductions.
LimaCorporate, an Italy-based multinational specializing in orthopedics, has today announced the launch of a new Research & Innovation Center (R&I Center) and an Advanced Laboratory for Testing and Analysis (ATLAs). The new facilities, based at LimaCorporate’s headquarters in Udine, Italy, will be dedicated entirely to 3D printing and advanced testing applications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued approval for patient-specific airway stents made with 3D printing. The custom stents, which are used to help patients with breathing disorders, were developed by Dr. Tom Gildea, a physician at the Cleveland Clinic.
A group of scientists has achieved a significant milestone in the development of a 3D printed and implantable artificial ovary, which could enable infertile women to become pregnant. For the first time ever, the team has identified and mapped structural proteins within a pig ovary, which will facilitate the development of an ink for bioprinting the important reproductive organ for humans.
FossiLabs, LLC, a startup company focused on engineering porous bone-like structures in polyether ether ketone (PEEK), launched the first-ever fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printed ‘fully’ porous PEEK bone- like structures within implantable devices. FossiLabs novel offering now makes it possible to 3D print solid or defined porous structures anywhere within the 3D space. Prior to this development, all other product offerings have only had surface porosity or windows within defined layers. The only viable alternative for 3D printing implantable, medical-grade PEEK is via SLS technology (EOS), with significantly higher costs.
3D printing is touted in the footwear industry for creating opportunities for customization. As demonstrated in the story below, custom shoes go beyond picking your preferred color palette and style: they can actually offer better comfort and support to wearers that need it.
3D Bioprinting Solutions and the P. A. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Center conducted a unique experiment on implant in-situ bioprinting to replace skin defects. The experiment was carried out in-situ – that is, “on the spot” – on live rats during an operation in the laboratory of preclinical studies of the P.A. Herzen MORC.
GE Healthcare and Formlabs have entered into a partnership to increase the accessibility of 3D printed, patient-specific anatomical models. In the medical sector, patient-specific models based on medical imaging data have multiple uses, from practitioner training to surgical preparation to patient communications.
Smart International, under license from Eastman Kodak Company, has announced it will be supporting e-NABLE Medellin’s effort in Colombia by providing 3D printing hardware, materials and technical support. e-NABLE Medellin, a Colombian branch of the global e-NABLE organization which aims to provide free prosthetic hands to those in need, will use Smart International’s KODAK Portrait 3D printer to reach its goal of donating up to 35 prosthetics and assistive devices before the end of the year.
A 3D printed bionic hand can be made to measure thanks to engineers at WMG, University of Warwick and a collaboration of other companies. The 3D printed IMPACT bionic hand incorporates muscle sensors to control an articulated thumb, enabling it to function similar to a human hand. It can be made to measure in 10 hours in a choice of colors.
Formlabs has today made a series of announcements, including the acquisition of its primary materials supplier, Spectra Group Photopolymers LLC, and the establishment of a new business wholly dedicated to the growing dental market: Formlabs Dental.
Israeli ceramic 3D printing company XJet is bringing its innovative NanoParticle Jetting Technology (NPJ) to yet another customer: KU Leuven University in Belgium. The installation of the Carmel 1400 3D printer at the university marks the first time XJet’s technology has been adopted by a European academic institution. Fittingly, KU Leuven is one of Europe’s pioneering academic players in ceramics and AM.
Anouk Wipprecht, one of the best-known tech-fashion designers making intensive use of 3D printing technologies, has worked with “bionic” singer Viktoria Modesta on the latest Rolls Royce Campaign. Anouk has collaborated with Viktoria on several projects in the past, transforming the singer’s prosthetic leg in a stylish augmentation. This time the duo, along with director Jora Frantzis, and Dutch designer Rem D. Koolhaas (of UnitedNude), produced items for a performance art piece that embodies the essence of Rolls Royce’s Black Badge brand. One of the special items they created is a prosthetic limb with an electricity effect, wrought from Rolls Royce Black Badge carbon fiber.
Kuunda3D has been selected as the newly appointed distributor for Copper3D‘s antibaterial filament portfolio on African markets. Through their partner network and carefully established African network, Kuunda3D expects to make Copper3D products more accessible to more customers and more countries than ever before.
Plenum, a Brazil-based biomedical company, recently adopted two Lithoz CeraFab 7500 3D printers to support the production of next-gen bone implants. The purchase and installation marks an exciting step into Brazil’s AM industry for Lithoz, an Austrian specialist in high performance ceramic 3D printing.
DePuy Synthes, a medical device company owned by Johnson & Johnson, has expanded its range of 3D printed interbody implants for treating degenerative spine disease with the release of the CONDUIT Interbody Platform with EIT Cellular Titanium Technology.
PrinterPrezz, a California company specializing in combining metal 3D printing, nanotechnologies and surgical expertise to design and manufacture next-generation medical devices, revealed that work is currently ongoing on new spinal interbody fusion devices in collaboration with Osseus Fusion Systems, a Dallas-based medical device company focused on spine products.
3D Systems has received additional 510(k) clearance for its D2P (DICOM-to-PRINT) software for the medical industry. The software, which enables clinicians to easily 3D print patient-specific anatomical models, works in tandem with 3D Systems’ 3D printers to create models for a range of medical areas, including cardiovascular, craniofacial, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, neurological and musculoskeletal applications.
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.
In the world of prototyping, Italy-based 3ntr has proven its worth, demonstrating time and time again that its 3D printing solutions offer the speed, precision and reliability needed to prototype viable products. The company’s 3D printers have even proven capable in one of the most demanding fields around—healthcare—through a recent partnership with global design studio Frog.
A series of recently approved codes by the American Medical Association (AMA) will help to push the adoption and use of 3D printing for clinical applications and healthcare. The new codes—consisting of four current procedural terminology (CPT) category III reimbursement codes, came into effect on July 1.
The fourth edition of the 3D Pioneers Challenge came to a close this past June, after the contest’s expert jury selected the winning submissions from a pool of 36 finalists. Winners from each of the challenge’s eight main categories were presented with their prizes (worth over € 40,000) at Rapid.Tech + FabCon 3D.
German chemical group WACKER is preparing to introduce a new and improved version of its ACEO 3D printing technology for silicone rubber at the upcoming K 2019 International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber. The new 3D printer—the ACEO Imagine Series K2—integrates a range of new features and capabilities, including printing up to four different silicone materials simultaneously.
Whilst 3D printing may not be new technology, the uptake of 3D printing for surgical applications is growing and offering novel, creative opportunities for personalized care. 3D printing technologies have been making their mark in medicine in many different areas, from pharmaceutical design to personalized, bioresorbable implants. Facilitating surgical teams both inside and outside the operating room, the adoption of 3D printing in surgery solutions is on the rise and is well positioned to be a fundamental instrument in the operating room of the future.
Australian startup Hearables 3D—a spin out of a research initiative at Swinburne University—has developed a process for 3D printing custom fitted ear devices, such as earphones and hearing aids, in less than an hour. The technique relies on smartphone 3D scanning and ultra-fast stereolithography 3D printing.
A small team of researchers from the Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences (COPPS) is eyeing a future in which human corneas can be 3D printed with ease. Recently, the team accomplished a first in the United States by 3D printing a cornea using a high performance machine.
PrinterPrezz, Inc., a California-based medical manufacturing company that specializes in metal 3D printing and nanotechnologies, is partnering with UCSF Surgical Innovations, an incubator-accelerator for medtech startups at the University of California, San Francisco. Through the partnership, PrinterPrezz and UCSF Surgical Innovations will establish a co-located innovation facility aimed at driving the use of AM for medical devices.
Materialise has made a further inroad into the medical market with recent FDA clearance for its Mimics Enlight cardiovascular planning software suite. The software tools are designed to support clinicians in the planning of complex transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) procedures.
Stryker today announced that it is to invest over €200 million in Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) projects at three of its five Cork facilities as it continues its vigorous innovation journey to deliver next generation products and services across its Medical Surgical, Orthopaedics and Neurotechnology and Spine offerings. The RD&I projects are supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.
Zenith Tecnica, a New Zealand-based titanium additive manufacturing company, has had quite the journey since its founding in 2014, becoming one of the country’s leading forces in the metal AM sector. Today, Zenith Tecnica continues to scale its business and expand its 3D printing capabilities with the installation of its fourth and fifth GE Additive Arcam EBM machines.
HP Inc. is surely smiling a little brighter today, as it has deployed a number of Jet Fusion 3D printing systems to teledentistry pioneer SmileDirectClub, for a total of 49 operating systems. SmileDirectClub, which specializes in doctor-directed, remote clear aligner therapy, now has the capacity to produce over 50,000 unique mouth molds a day and nearly 20 million in the next 12 months. That’s a lot of corrected smiles!
Inovus Medical has installed a new production level SLS 3D printer from 3D Systems in its manufacturing facility in St Helens, Merseyside. The laser sintering 3D printer enables the company to produce plastic parts with a finish level that rivals that of injection molding, without the expensive upfront cost of tooling and mold production. In addition, the laser sintering process that does not require support structures, thus increasing printer bed utilization and production capacity.
Nexxt Spine, an Indiana-based medical device manufacturer, aims to scale up its spinal implant production with the adoption of its fourth and fifth Concept Laser Mlab 100R 3D printers from GE Additive. The company, which began using 3D printing just two years ago, sees the technology as the way forward for implant production.
UK-based metal AM company Renishaw collaborated with a Yorkshire dental laboratory to fully digitize the design and production of removable partial dentures (RPDs). Through the collaboration and the implementation of Renishaw’s metal 3D printing platform, the dental lab is achieving faster turnaround times and better quality RPDs.
An assistant professor in industrial systems and engineering from Virginia Tech and a team of undergraduate students are hoping to advance customized 3D printed prosthetics with the integration of electronic sensors. The project aims to make sophisticated, electric-powered prosthetics more accessible than existing state-of-the-art prosthetics.
SmarTech Analysis has published the fifth edition of its Additive Manufacturing in Dentistry report. The firm projects that the total market for AM in dentistry will surpass $2.7 billion (USD) in 2019 (hardware, services, materials and software). The report also says that by 2022 as many as 500 million dental devices and restorations will be produced annually via additive manufacturing, driving the overall segment to top $9 billion by the end of the forecast period in 2028.
Though the rumoured alien origins of crystal skulls may be outlandish, there’s a new set of transparent skulls that could stir up innovations within the medical field. Researchers from the University of Minnesota have created 3D printed transparent skull implants for mice that can literally give more insight into how the brain works. According to the researchers, the device could lead to discoveries about brain conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and even concussion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NASA Nebraska Space Grant office provided funding to examine the development, validation, and mechanically characterization of antimicrobial 3D printed medical devices for astronauts. The objective is to test the antimicrobial properties of Copper3D’s PLACTIVE filament material on the International Space Station.
SafKan, a Tucson-based startup, has developed an innovative pair of 3D printed headphones—only they’re not for listening to music. The company, which was awarded Protolabs Cool Idea! award for its concept, has created a pair of medical headphones which can professionally clean a person’s ear in just 35 seconds.
The dental applications market is now increasingly seen as a key production market for 3D printing technologies and many feel that the paradigm shift will come to completion at this year’s IDS show in Koln. Several companies are gearing up, including ceramic 3D printer manufacturer Lithoz. The Austrian company will be presenting the new CeraFab 7500 Dental system at IDS next 12-16 March 2019.
axial3D, a UK-based medical 3D printing company is partnering with the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland to deliver advanced 3D printing solutions for improved patient care. Through the collaboration, the Swiss hospital will integrate axial3D’s cloud-based platform, axial3Dassure, into its 3D printing lab to improve its medical AM capabilities.
Additive Orthopaedics, a New Jersey-based producer of next-gen orthopaedic devices for the foot and ankle, has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Patient Specific 3D Printed Locking Lattice Plates. The recently approved 3D printed device is designated for the alignment, stabilization and fusion of fractures, osteotomies and arthrodesis of the foot, ankle or other small bones.
Johnson & Johnson, a pharmaceutical, medical and consumer goods company that has been in operation for over a century, clearly understands what its target markets want. In the consumer goods arena, the company recently demonstrated just how well it is meeting these wants with the unveiling of its most personalized skincare product ever, the Neutrogena MaskiD. At the cutting edge of the beauty tech sector, the MaskiD combines Neutrogena Skin 360 technology with 3D printing to offer ultra-customized facial care.
Open Bionics, a UK-based company that develops low cost 3D printed bionic hands, has raised a whopping £4.66 million ($5.9 million) through a recent investment round. Investors include Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund, Downing Ventures, Ananda Impact Ventures and Rathbone Nominees.
On Tuesday, January 8, Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr., assisted by Dr. Andrew Moulton of Joseph Spine became the first medical equip in the world to use Osseus Fusion Systems‘ revolutionary 3D Printed Aries Titanium Spinal Implant. The device was cleared by FDA just last August.
Metal additive manufacturing processes are helping engineers to reinvent how parts are designed and produced. In the medical sector, orthopaedic implants are proving to be one of the key applications where metal AM is really having an impact, as the technology enables patient specific structures, as well as complex porous geometries which in turn allow for more lightweight implants.
A joint team of researchers from American universities has developed a 3D printed device that is capable of absorbing excess chemotherapy drugs from a patient’s body. The novel device could make chemotherapy treatments more effective while reducing the negative side effects of the harsh drugs on cancer patients.
LimaCorporate, an Italian multinational specialized in orthopaedics, is partnering with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), one of the top orthopaedic hospitals in the U.S., to establish the first additive manufacturing facility for custom implants in a hospital environment. By founding the AM facility, the partners hope to improve the availability and accessibility of personalized orthopaedic care within the U.S.
Formlabs is the latest company to make a CES 2019 announcement. The company has introduced two new 3D printing products: Elastic Resin, said to be the company’s softest resin yet, and Digital Dentures, a cost-effective solution for the production of dentures.
Through various partnerships with Universities around the world, the Johnson & Johnson 3D Printing Center of Excellence program has been advancing 3D printing and bioprinting technologies on many different levels. Bearing the fruits of this innovation, the Group’s top skincare brand is unveiling the most personalized skincare product ever, the Neutrogena MaskiD at the Consumer Electronics Showcase (CES) in Las Vegas. This patent-pending 3D printed sheet mask is powered by user data to deliver the highest clinical efficacy.
France-based 3D printing company Prodways Group announced the acquisition of Surdifuse-L’Embout Français, a leader in hearing aid technology and specifically in the production of 3D printed custom ear tips for hearing aids.
UK-based metal AM company Renishaw revealed today it has been working in partnership with the University Dental Hospital of Wales (UDH) to 3D print custom maxillofacial implants and surgical guides. In the context of the hospital, Renishaw’s additive manufacturing technologies and services are helping UDH to overcome certain challenges surrounding surgical implants.
The days of weekly pill boxes and carefully planning dosages could soon be over thanks to a number of innovations brought about with 3D printing. The latest on this front comes from MIT, Draper and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which have collectively developed a 3D printed ingestible capsule capable of personalized drug delivery and much more.
Treating cancer can be a challenging process that is often highly taxing on the patient being undergoing therapies. Because there is no way to know what types of therapy will be most effective for a given patient’s case, there is still an element of trial and error that comes into play—meaning that patients sometimes undergo various types of treatment before the most effective therapy is found. For obvious reasons, many biomedical researchers are looking for an alternative solution.
Researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have created a novel 3D printing workflow that allows cardiologists to evaluate how different heart valve sizes will interact with each patient’s unique anatomy before the medical procedure is actually performed. The possibility of using material jetting 3D printing to produce more proficient implantable heart valves has been amply demonstrated. In this research project, the scientists also demonstrate that 3D printing can be used as a key tool to design even more accurate replacement valves, reducing time requirements on the operating table and improving the patient’s quality of life and recovery.
Researchers from Washington State University have developed a 3D printed biosensor for monitoring glucose. The innovative research could offer diabetes patients a more accessible and effective means on keeping track of their glucose levels.
We often talk about the potential of additive manufacturing to revolutionize the medical industry through implants, but there is one healthcare area where 3D printed implants are already having very real impacts: in the veterinary field.
3D Systems revealed this week that it has been working closely with nonprofit organization OpHeart over the past four years to provide 3D printed tools and devices to pediatric heart surgeons to help with surgical preparation. OpHeart is a U.S.-based organization dedicated to improving treatments for children born with life-threatening heart defects.
Belgian chemical company Solvay introduced three new medical grade additive manufacturing materials for the healthcare industry at Formnext last week. The new materials, KetaSpire PEEK (NT1 HC), KetaSpire PEEK (CF10 HC) and Radel PPSU (NT1 HC), are Solvay’s first high-performance filaments for medical use.
Yissum, a technology transfer company affiliated with the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, has developed a new 3D printing technique for producing drug capsules. The process, to be presented at the annual 3D Printing and Beyond conference today at the Hebrew University, utilizes custom 3D printed hydrogels with the capacity for delayed release for controlled drug dosage.
Stem cell research firm Celprogen Inc. has been working on something quite exciting for some time now, which has remained largely under the radar until very recently. The California-based company announced it has successfully 3D printed a human brain organelle using brain stem cells. The bioprinted brain could have applications in studying neurological diseases.
French 4D bioprinting company Poietis has announced the commercialization of its Next Generation Bioprinting (NGB) systems. The bioprinting platform, which has been in development for the past four years, is designed for tissue engineering applications in research and development or for clinical batch production.
The CRIQ (also known as the “Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec”) is a research organization run by the Quebec government in Canada which undertakes over a thousand projects a year to push forward industrial innovation. In recent years, one of these projects has revolved around the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies for the development and production of next-gen implants and, specifically, lower jawbone implants.
In a time where connected devices and IoT are becoming increasingly mainstream, the idea of an object that tracks information is not wholly surprising. If, however, I told you that the object tracking the information did not integrate any electronics or batteries, I’d certainly expect some quizzical looks. But that’s exactly what researchers from the University of Washington have achieved in a recent research project involving 3D printed objects that can monitor how they are used.
A bioengineering PhD candidate from the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering has been developing a 3D printed phantom head which so closely resembles a human head that it can be used to test the 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imager (7T MRI), one of the strongest clinical MRI devices in use.
Endocon GmbH, a German medical device company, has turned to additive manufacturing to improve hip and knee replacement surgeries. The company utilized metal AM technologies from GE Additive to create the endoCupcut, an innovative medical device that makes hip cup extraction easier, more cost effective and more reliable.
Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies*, through its subsidiary Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH, have acquired Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH (EIT), a privately held manufacturer of 3D-printed titanium interbody implants for spinal fusion surgery, based in Wurmlingen, Germany. The products in this portfolio leverage EIT’s proprietary advanced cellular titanium, which consists of an open and interconnected porous structure designed to allow bone to grow into the implant. As an industry leader across the full range of orthopaedic and spine specialties, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies will leverage its global commercial infrastructure to bring EIT’s technologies to patients around the world.
UK-based medical 3D printing expert 3D LifePrints recently entered into a long-term agreement with the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. Under the newly signed collaboration, 3D LifePrints will continue to supply the hospital with specialized 3D printing services, including the printing of medical models.
Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) have leveraged Optomec’s LENS Hybrid Controlled Atmosphere system in the development of 3D printed dissolvable magnesium structures. The dissolvable components are being investigated for medical applications and, specifically, the production of patient-specific implants.
3D Systems today announced at IMTS 2018 that Align Technology, maker of the Invisalign system of clear aligners for straightening teeth, has increased its investment in 3D Systems’ SLA 3D printing technology as part of its continued operational expansion. The multi-year collaboration is part of Align’s highly customized additive manufacturing solution that meets the needs of Align’s global business.
It’s not just bioprinting technology that stands to revolutionize biomedical research and drug discovery. As researchers from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada have shown, even low-cost 3D printing can be used to create helpful and innovative tools for medical research.
Ali Khademhosseini, a bioengineering professor at UCLA specializing in tissue engineering and bioprinting, and his team have developed a new and innovative technique for bioprinting tubular structures that mimic complex vessel networks and ducts. The breakthrough research, recently published in the journal Advanced Materials, could enable the bioprinting of tissues for implanting or drug testing.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota have made an important breakthrough in the development of a bionic eye. We’re not exactly talking about a Terminator-like bionic eye, but it does skew into the realm of science fiction, as the bionic eye could one day enable people with visual impairments to see better.
Conformis, a medical technology company that offers patient conforming joint replacement implants, today announced the completion of the first two Conformis Hip System implants. The Conformis Hip System is the first ever 3D designed primary total hip replacement system. The first surgeries were performed by Gregory Martin, M.D., Joint Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon and founder of Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches, and took place at a leading HCA Facility, JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida on July 31, 2018.
Medical device firm Osseus Fusion Systems has announced that its Aries family of 3D printed lumbar interbody fusion devices have received FDA 510(k) clearance. The approval marks one of the largest FDA clearances for a family of 3D printed spinal devices of that kind.
AVINENT Digital Health has recently acquired the Stratasys J750 3D printer, a powerful device in the field of 3D printing that stands out from the crowd in terms of its technology for its ability to reproduce the most realistic models.
In Tennessee, oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Brooks, and his team of residents are using EnvisionTEC’s 3D printing solutions to create better treatment plans, implants and other life-changing devices for patients with birth defects, or recovering from disease or trauma.
Though spinal cord injuries can be a life changing issue—resulting discomfort, extreme pain and even paralysis—new 3D printing research coming from the University of Minnesota could take us one step closer to treating and helping people with long-term spinal cord injuries.
“Imagine a completely robotic being consciously controlled by a biological brain,” YouBionic’s Federico Ciccarese tells us. And though my mind goes almost directly to the massive Jaegers from Pacific Rim, there is a real world example of Ciccarese’s idea that could soon become a reality.
As additive manufacturing gradually improves its viability as a manufacturing process, its role as a prototyping technology can sometimes be overlooked or underemphasized. Rather than seeing its prototyping potential as a limitation, however, there are some who are looking to shine a spotlight onto this particular application of 3D printing.
Stryker’s Spine division today announced the publication of a pre-clinical animal study comparing the performance of spinal implants made from a variety of materials, which illustrated the bone ingrowth and biological fixation capabilities of its 3D-printed Tritanium cages. The study, titled “Bony Ingrowth Potential of 3D Printed Porous Titanium Alloy: A Direct Comparison of Interbody Cage Materials in an In Vivo Ovine Lumbar Fusion Model,” was published in the July issue of The Spine Journal.
CELLINK, the Swedish startup that created one of the first universal bioinks and manufacturers cost effective bioprinters, is working on a EU co-funded project called TumorPrint. The project aims to develop and commercialize a Specific Bioprinting platform, including bioinks, software and hardware, specialized for printing of human cancer tumors.
Besides colliding hadrons to unravel the misteries of the Universe, CERN technology is at the heart of many things that have become widespread today, from CD’s to the Internet to the Cloud. They of course use 3D printers at CERN (although not subatomic ones) ad this time New Zealand based MARS Bioimaging used a CERN technology to produce a machine capable of creating the first color X-ray 3D scan of a human.
Chicago-based biotech company BIOLIFE4D announced this week that it has successfully 3D bioprinted a human cardiac tissue patch, bringing the company a small step closer to its ultimate goal of 3D bioprinting a viable and transplantable human heart.
As per a new partnership agreement, Shanghai-based 3D printing company INTAMSYS will be collaborating with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to further advance additive manufacturing applications for orthopaedic surgery and, specifically, applications for PEEK and other high-performance materials.
Antibacterial materials and filaments for 3D printing, something that many consider being a key development for biomedical 3D printing applications – are now widely available through a series of new materials introduced by Santhiago, Chile-based startup Copper3D.
Poietis, a leading French bioprinting company and Prometheus, the Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering at KU Leuven, entered into a 2-years Collaborative Research Agreement focused on high-precision 3D Bioprinting of tissue engineered Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs) for skeletal regeneration.
Additive manufacturing pioneer 3D Systems has introduced its new On Demand Anatomical Modeling Service for medical 3D printing applications. The newly launched service provides medical professionals access to 3D printable and highly detailed anatomical models for improving surgical planning as well as patient education.
With increasing life expectancies across much of the globe, the need for medication and treatments for age-related degenerative muscle and tendon diseases is growing. And though much research is being done on that front, medical scientists have faced consistent challenges in developing effective drugs for muscle degeneration. Fortunately, a team of researchers in Switzerland is conducting microplate bioprinting research that could offer a solution to one of the main challenges in developing treatments.
Oxford Performance Materials (OPM) is a fascinating company founded in 2000 to exploit and commercialize the use of poly-ether-ketone-ketone (PEKK) through additive manufacturing for medical and industrial applications. The company developed a high-performance additive manufacturing (HPAM) process (a modified laser sintering approach) to produce fully functional, end-use structural parts. Now the company is furthering its expansion into key Asia markets: business development of OPM Asia, a partnership with Tokyo-based JSR Corporation (JSR), is now led by experienced medical device sector executive Curt Jennewine, who will serve as will serve as OPM Asia’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Chanua Health, a healthcare innovation company working out of Liverpool’s technical innovation center Sensor City, recently turned to 3D printing technologies to help educate young students about the importance of mental health. Working with support from Sensor City, Chanua Health 3D printed an interactive brain model that teaches students about different parts of the brain and about mental health in a stigma-less way.
French 3D printing company Prodways Group, a subsidiary of Groupe Gorgé, has announced the launch of a new 3D printer, the compact ProMaker LD-3, for the dental, jewelry, education and prototyping markets. Introduced in partnership with W2P, the new 3D printer is based on Prodways’ UV-LED DLP technology.
Inaccurate reports on bioprinting functional organs run the risk of raising false expectations within the public, with the inevitable “let downs” that follow. These are made even more intense by the “life and death” nature of some organ transplants. Yet, bioprinting is opening up some truly amazing possibilities in the field of regenerative medicine and stem cell-derived tissues, that could result in significant life expectancy and quality of life improvements. A detailed paper published on Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, by a team of researchers at the University of Victoria, analyzes the state of bioprinting with stem cells to accurately answer the questions on many people’s minds: what can we bioprint today? And what can we achieve in the foreseeable future in terms of regenerative medicine applications?
Edmonds Dental Prosthetics‘s focus has always been bringing high-quality products to its doctor client base. One way to do this is by utilizing state of the art equipment. This means looking for ways to improve manufacturing processes through digital technology. The latest improvement in this sense is the addition of two Carbon 3D printers.
While we often talk about bioinks and hydrogel materials for 3D bioprinting applications, a group of engineers from the University of Illinois have developed a new (and sweet!) material and 3D printer system which could have important applications in biomedical engineering, cancer research and device manufacturing.
A UCLA bioengineer has developed a technique that uses a specially adapted 3D printer to build therapeutic biomaterials from multiple materials. The advance could be a step toward on-demand printing of complex artificial tissues for use in transplants and other surgeries.
Canadian biotechnology company Aspect Biosystems has received a $1 million investment from Genome BC, a Vancouver-based non-profit dedicated to genomics innovation. The funding will go towards advancing and further commercializing Aspect Biosystems’ 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering platform.
While we’ve always known turmeric to be a versatile spice—it’s great in curries and lattes!—we didn’t realize just how multi-use it could be. Now, however, thanks to a research initiative coming out of Washington State University (WSU), the benefits of using turmeric in the production of 3D printed ceramic bone scaffolds have become apparent.
A group of researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada have created a handheld 3D skin printer for treating deep wounds. The portable printing device, reportedly the first of its kind, is capable of precisely depositing layers of a bioink directly into a deep wound to help with the healing process.
EnvisionTEC and EasyRx, a developer of orthodontic prescription software, today announced the integration of their software for ease of use. EasyRx allows users to submit, manage and track orthodontic lab prescriptions, including preparing and labeling them for 3D printing. Now, EasyRx users can simply launch an STL file in EnvisionTEC’s Perfactory software by clicking the EnvisionTEC logo within EasyRx. Users can now go from digital scan to 3D print faster than ever before.
With lots of exciting additive manufacturing industry news coming in last week from RAPID+TCT and Hannover Messe, this week seems to be dominated by another industry: the medical sector. So far, we’ve seen new 3D printed implants from Medtronic, EnvisionTEC partnerships and financial announcements from CollPlant from the medical tech, dental and bioprinting fields. Find today’s highlights below:
Looking back over the last decade, it is clear from the vantage point of 2017 that additive manufacturing (AM) has caused significant disruption in the medical sector. Indeed, in no other sector has AM had such a profound and dramatic effect on the human condition in terms of improving lives — whether directly at the point of need within clinical environments or communities or indirectly as a manufacturing method for greatly improved medical devices. Currently, despite the direct approach dominating many ‘3D Printing’ headlines as surgeons and clinicians increasingly embrace the AM systems at the point of need for patient-specific applications, it is the latter, indirect approach, that has seen significant results for higher volume, serial production with AM by medical device manufacturers.
A new study presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) Scientific Sessions illuminates the effectiveness of using 3D printed models to determine the risk of paravalvular leak (PVL) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) operations.
It seems the excitement surrounding 3D Systems’ game-changing Figure 4 additive manufacturing technology has not been lost on the U.S. Air Force. In an announcement at RAPID+TCT yesterday, 3D Systems revealed that its Figure 4 Production system had been chosen for Air Force-sponsored research.
The knee is one of the most vulnerable and short-life hinge joints in the human anatomy, with an average life expectancy of 50 years. Many seniors are suffering different types of knee problem, which affects normal lifestyle and reduce mobility in their old age.
Among other big news from one of the 3D printing market’s leaders participation at this year’s RAPID show in Texas, EnvisionTEC also unveiled two new medical-grade materials that make printing parts for safe implantation in humans.
In December 2017, INSTOK AUDIO, a large medical manufacturer, largely known for its superior, custom-made hearing aids, purchased their first Drake Mini scanner from Thor3D. The company wanted to harness the power of 3D scanning to create more realistic face-prosthetics (i.e. ears, eyes, chins, noses) in their Protez-Studio subsidiary.
The benefits of additive manufacturing technologies within the jewelry and luxury goods sector are clear. Processes such as stereolithography (SLA) have opened the doors for intricate and beautiful jewelry design as well as customized luxury ornaments. In the case of polymer-based SLA, 3D printed jewelry typically requires molding and casting post-processes to create the final piece.
Norman Noble, a leading contract manufacturer of next-generation medical implants, has now implemented metal additive manufacturing capabilities. AM is seen by the company as a manufacturing solution for new product designs that could otherwise not be produced using standard methods. Additive manufactured, 3D printed parts can now be made from metallic based alloys including: titanium, stainless steel and cobalt chrome. The ability to produce additive-manufactured parts from magnesium and nitinol also is currently under development.
EnvisionTEC expanded its reach in the French market with the addition of Nantes and Bordeaux-base ...
CoreLink, LLC, a fast growing, vertically integrated designer and manufacturer of spinal implant systems, have released its Foundation 3D Interbody Cage Systems for cervical and lumbar fusions.
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Prodways Group reported received the first simultaneous order for two ProMaker LD-10s from a front-running North-American dental laboratory. The sale is symbolic is several respects. It illustrates the successful launch of the new ProMaker LD-10 developed by Prodways Technologies in 2017 to expand the MOVINGLight range to new segment of dental laboratories requiring industrial machines priced below €100,000. Furthermore, it validates the recognition that 3D printing production machines from Prodways are receiving.
SHINING 3D, an industry leader in 3D digitizing and printing industries, opened its new office for the Americas, as part of its plan for expansion into global markets. The new office, located at 1740 César Chávez St. Unit D. San Francisco, CA 94124, is the company’s third main office, adding to the headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang and the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) office in Stuttgart, Germany, which opened last year. The San Francisco office will serve as the base of operations for SHINING 3D’s markets in North America, Central and South America.
INTAMSYS, a leader in PEEK and high-performance functional materials 3D printing solutions, announced today that the company is officially launching its 3D printing service with worldwide shipping coverage, and releasing the technical data sheets for all selectable materials.
Hanyang Technology, located in Baoding, Hebei Province China was founded in July 2017 by CEO Sasa Jia and Technical Director Vivian Wang. Hanyang’s core products are orthodontic at present, predominantly the production of tooth aligners. The business also engages in the application of medical and 3D printing technology research and recently registered a new transparent dental appliance brand MYDEMAK. For their high-end 3D printing needs, the Hanyang team turned to EnvisionTEC.
German scientists have demonstrated the first fully functional process for metallic glass additive manufacturing. The latest additive technologies research results to be presented at the AM Science forum at the Rapid.Tech + FabCon 3.D international trade fair on June 6th and 7th.
LPW Technology (LPW) and Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd (GAM) are cooperating to further demonstrate the suitability of spheroidized tantalum metal powder for 3D metal printing. Across this emerging industry, there are few examples of additively manufactured refractory metals, and a need exists for a more thorough proof of concept and development of print criteria. GAM is filling this void and expanding its product portfolio.
Materialise NV is the first company in the world to receive FDA clearance for software intended for 3D printing anatomical models for diagnostic use. Leading hospitals are adopting integrated 3D printing services as part of their medical practices as they recognize the added value it brings to personalized patient care. Materialise brings nearly three decades of experience in developing medical solutions that help researchers, engineers and clinicians achieve the desired patient outcomes.
A team of researchers have developed an open-source, clinically validated template for a 3D printed stethoscope for use in areas of the world with limited access to medical supplies – places where a stethoscope could mean the difference between life and death.
Ever since affordable 3D printing became a thing, a plethora of startups began envisioning it as a tool for producing truly customized orthopedic supports. Some efforts actually reach their goal but only in tailor made single solutions, not as a mass customization device. Now a company called ActiveArmor may have finally cracked that riddle, creating a 3D printed cast/orthotic support device for injuries and pain that is meeting with the favor of the medical community.
Visiting 3D print shops around the world was one of my favorite activities when I started blogging about 3D printer companies. Now that the company I founded on the wake of those experiences, 3D Printing Business Media Ltd., has grown into an global media company running three websites, an international team of professionals and conducting extensive market research in many industrial AM segments, visiting companies and shops is not often possible for me. So when, during a recent short holiday in Bangkok I found out about Septillion, a leading Thai 3D print shop and 3D products distributor, I took the opportunity to go back to this company’s roots: meeting and uniting everyone in the world of 3D printing, across all continents.
FabRx is a spin-out company from the University College London (UCL) holding a unique leadership position in the development of 3D printing for fabricating medicines (a segment 3DPMN has covered in the past). The company employs different 3D printing technologies such as FDM, SLA and now SLS to manufacture what it refers to as “Printlets” (3D printed tablets), with a wide range of pharmaceutical excipients.
Materialise NV released a shoulder planner for surgeons with the possibility to plan shoulder arthroplasty cases and order patient-specific shoulder guides, in collaboration with DePuy Synthes. The TRUMATCH Personalized Solutions Shoulder System, revealed at the AAOS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, marks a further extension of Materialise’s longstanding collaboration with DePuy Synthes, who will distribute the solution in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
Implanting 3D printed parts into a human body was a rarity back in 2007, until Italian surgeon Dr ...
In 2017, 3D printing went mainstream in the dental industry. A number of high profile business ventures and acquisitions have continued to propel dental applications utilizing 3D printing technologies firmly into the sights of the largest dental services and solutions providers in the world. As the additive industry continues to transition, as a whole, towards manufacturing applications, the growth path for most existing polymer print technologies has faltered somewhat by historical comparison. This has allowed for well established, high value applications in healthcare to really shine and earn major focus of stakeholders in the industry.
The Argen Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of precious dental gold alloys, leader in ...
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PostProcess Technologies, the Buffalo, NY-based company pioneering automated post-printing solutions for the industrial 3D printing market, signed agreement with the Johns Hopkins University’s Carnegie Center for Surgical Innovation to automate post-printing technologies for the center’s 3D printing facility.
Welcome to 3DPMN’s latest major appointment with AM sector leaders discussing some of the most important issues that will define the future of 3D printing. This time — as part of our Industry Focus this month — we are looking at 3D printing automation, something that many have identified as one of the single biggest evolution of 3D printing: the integration of 3D printers — through AM hardware and software — into fully automated production lines.
Through two new partnerships with DENTCA and DREVE, Carbon is introducing three new dental 3D-printing-focused materials.
Fischler Dental AG, a leading Swiss dental laboratory, renewed its trust in Prodways Technologies with the purchase of its second MOVINGLight ProMaker L5000 D dental 3D printer to increase its dental model production capacity while maintaining the precision and quality that have made its reputation.
Precision ADM, announced an investment in three metal additive manufacturing machines made by EOS, the world’s leading technology supplier in the field of industrial 3D printing of metals and polymers. The acquisition increases their AM capacity and capability, making it the largest direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) AM manufacturer in Canada with ISO 13485:2016 Quality Management System certification.
Advancements in the medical field have shown that 3D printing can be proficiently applied to many added value clinical applications. These include planning of a complex reconstruction in neurosurgery or improving the accuracy of custom-made implants for orthopedic reconstructions. The use of 3D printed surgical guides can reduce the time of surgery and enhance outcome. BRECA Health Care, a start up based in Granada, Spain is pioneering the design and manufacturing of custom-made medical devices with many patients treated worldwide during the last 7 years.
Zurich-based technology competence center inspire AG and the Hamburg-based consulting company Ampower cooperate by offering joint workshops for Additive Manufacturing. The aim of the cooperation is to enable industrial customers to implement Additive Manufacturing. The workshop program developed by inspire supports the customer in three steps over a period of 8 months in knowledge building, the identification of potential components, component design and the development of an implementation strategy within the company.
Chicago based startup Dimension Inx is leveraging its founders’ unique experience to launch a set of materials for 3D printing – or bioprinting – just about anything. These materials, that range from metals and graphene to bone-like mixtures – go by the name of 3D Paints. The underlying concept is that mixing them together transforms the 3D printer – or bioprinter – into a 3D canvas.
I had the pleasure of meeting and introducing Mr. Conor as a panel speaker during the recent AM Strategies conference in Washington DC. By day he works as a software engineer at General Electric. By night, he builds 3D printed custom prosthetic hands for his Handsmith project. With a small facility of four desktop 3D printers, Lyman has just fit his first patient and moved into production.
3D LifePrints UK Ltd, one of the UK’s leading medical 3D printing companies, has closed a Series A investment round of £500,000 with Fenwall Investments Ltd. This investment follows on from previous Seed Funding investment in 2016 and will enable accelerated expansion for this award-winning innovative company.
In segments such as regenerative medicine, neuroscience and drug discovery, 3D printing finds practical uses from cartilage repair, hearing aids to printable pills. In the challenge of fabricating biocompatible 3D microdevices, Nanoscribe’s 3D microprinting represents a versatile approach with the interplay of a high-resolution 3D printer and proprietary photo resin materials. The following scientific work in cell regeneration and nerve interfacing highlights the practicality of 3D-printed micro-objects harmless to living systems.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow developed a new method for drug manufacturing which uses 3D printers to create pharmaceuticals on demand. The study on 3D printed drugs, published in a new paper published today in the journal Science, could lead to a ‘Spotify for chemistry’. This would mark a new approach to the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals using a digital code, one that many are looking at as a potential breakthrough.
to3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) and Stryker formed an exclusive distribution partnership focusing on personalized surgery, VSP (Virtual Surgical Planning) and anatomical models for the craniomaxillofacial specialty. This partnership will drive the availability of personalized surgical planning and techniques to healthcare professionals – saving both surgeons and patients hours in the operating room.1
Age Simulator is a multi-part and multi-stage project whose indirect goal is to make life easier for elderly people. Get Models Now design office, together with the Faculty of Wood Technology at the University of Life Sciences in Poznan, has taken the gloves in the fight for a better and fair future for seniors around the world.
After 15 years in the 3D printing business, our team at EnvisionTEC has seen a lot of trends come and go, and we’re excited about what we see on the horizon.
Carbon closed in a total raise of $200 million in Series D funding. The high-speed photopolymerization 3D printer manufacturing startup will use the additional capital to accelerate its momentum in disrupting traditional analog injection molding production techniques with connected, software-first, digitally-enabled design and fabrication capabilities. Specifically, Carbon intends to use the funds to fast-track its global expansion plans and product roadmap, and will double down on its deep commitment to enabling customers to move to real-world, mass digital production at scale.
K2M Group Holdings received a CE Mark for its CAPRI Cervical 3D Expandable Corpectomy Cage System featuring Lamellar 3D Titanium Technology, and the successful completion of its first surgical case. CAPRI Cervical 3D Expandable is the world’s first and only 3D-printed expandable device on the market to facilitate continuous in-situ height expansion and endplate angulation in the cervical spine. K2M was the first leading spine company to introduce a 3D-printed spinal implant and offers the most comprehensive portfolio of 3D-printed spinal devices on the market.
Stratasys is teaming with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri to launch an advanced 3D printing “Center of Excellence” – designed to accelerate innovation in pre-surgical preparedness, medical research and patient treatment. Open now, the center leverages Stratasys 3D printing technology to develop and share best-practices throughout a range of specialties including neurosurgery, orthopedics, cardiac treatment, as well as hand and cranial maxillofacial reconstructive surgery.Listed by U.S. News and World Report as a “Best Children’s Hospital,” this nationally-ranked pediatric academic medical center fully invests in the latest technologies to serve medical needs of children today and tomorrow. At the foundation of this commitment is Stratasys 3D printing technology, encouraging SLUCare (the physician practice at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital) doctors and surgeons to explore new approaches for advancing patient well-being. SSM Health Cardinal Glennon currently leverages the Stratasys J750 3D Printer – the world’s only full-color, multi-material solution delivering unmatched material versatility and realism.
Formlabs is announced a new Color Kit, the first integrated color mixing solution for stereolithography 3D printing. Anyone using the new Color Kit has the ability to create custom Color Resins with uniformly colored, high-resolution 3D prints with the smooth surface finish SLA technology is known for. Formlabs has a library of Standard Resins they have developed alongside the new Color Kit. These are the general purpose materials for the Form 2 and have shown to be great for rapid prototyping and creating concept models to bring your ideas to life. Professionals from various departments across industries have been consistently impressed with the various materials available, noting their high detail, smooth finish, and minimal post-printing cleanup.
The University of Wollongong (UOW) will establish a world first facility to enable the development of bioinks and customised bioprinting systems for targeted clinical applications. This will be greatly facilitated by the award of a $400,000 grant from MTPConnect – the Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals Industry Growth Centre.
The FDA, the American Food and Drug Administration, has been paying attention to the growth of additive manufacturing for some time now. In order to further provide guidelines to implementing 3D printing of medical devices, promotion their further development and benefits, the US-based institution has developed the first comprehensive guide to provide the Agency’s initial thinking on technical considerations specific to devices using additive manufacturing. The complete guidance is available here to download: FDA AM Guidance
Earlier this week we brought to you an exclusive overview of the leading ceramics-based additive manufacturing processes and systems. In Part 2 of this article, Rachel Park explores the leading materials, services and applications that are breaking through the next 3D printing material frontier.
Ceramics are deeply embedded as a functional material in human history, dating back to Asia as early as 12,000 BC in clay forms for pots. Industrial ceramic materials date back to the start of the 20th Century, and the 1st industrial revolution when ceramics were used more widely for indoor plumbing, sewer tiles, and bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
Stratasys is further advancing the impact and use of 3D printing in medical modeling by signing an agreement with Philips. The agreement includes virtually seamless interfacing and dedicated workflows across Philips IntelliSpace Portal 10 and Stratasys Direct Manufacturing’s parts-on-demand service – allowing a broader range of medical professionals to improve training, research and surgical planning through 3D printing.
Materialise NV and Siemens Healthineers have joined forces ...
At the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting and Exhibition, 3D Systems ...
Shining 3D is one of the leading 3D scanning and 3D printing system manufacturer in China. The company has been investing significantly in innovation and now offers a wider range of 3D scanning and 3D printing technologies than any other company in the world. In a Chinese medical 3D printing market that is literally booming, the company is carving a leading role for itself as a provider of 3D solutions to the medical sector – including healthcare, dental and bioprinting applications – with all the challenges that this may bring to a still relatively young company. We spoke with the company’s marketing director Icy Xie about the state and significant growth potential of the Chinese medical 3D printing market as well as the challenges that both Shining 3D and foreign companies may face when addressing this segment.
Dr. Didier Nimal is the founder and CEO of OsseoMatrix. He knows by experience how difficult it is to repair bone losses that range from moderate to severe. He has worked in the medical industry for the Institut Pasteur and then for leading companies in the medical implants sector. He dedicates himself to developing a solution that would be less invasive and less painful for the patient than traditional treatments.
CELLINK and Takara Bio Europe AB will collaborate to evaluate bioprinting of CELLINK’s Bioink with Takara’s cells for insulin secretion by iPS derived beta cells.
Stratasys reveal that surgeons at the University of Mainz Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department are using Stratasys PolyJet 3D printing to transform the hospital’s surgical planning process for complex, life-critical vascular cases. According to the University hospital, the use of 3D printed models for surgical planning has seen a significant reduction in costs at the institution when designing and fitting implants – while the hospital reports relevant time-savings during surgery, leading to an improvement in patient outcomes.
Medicine and dentistry are two key applications for 3D printing, presenting an unparalleled potential for next-generation solutions for patients while also streamlining operations from the providers’ perspective. To better understand the potential of bringing 3D printing into medicine and dentistry, 3DPrint.com are teaming up with SmarTech Markets Publishing, the leading provider of industry analysis and market forecasts for the 3D printing/additive manufacturing industry, to present Additive Manufacturing Strategies.
3Diligent has added silicone 3D Printing to its capabilities and is now accepting requests for quote (RFQs) and is processing orders in the material. Silicone 3D Printing is enabling innovative product development in many industries. One industry especially interested in this new process is the medical industry. From realistic models for surgical training to 3D printed bandages applied directly to human skin to exploration of artificial hearts, silicone 3D Printing has the potential for many life altering and lifesaving applications in medicine.
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Amputees do not have an easy life: everyday activities can be a real struggle, and the prosthetic market is incredibly limited. Glaze believes that this disability is not something to be ashamed of and should be turned into an advantage. The company have found a solution: the Glaze Prosthetic, a fully customized cosmetic arm that allows people unlimited options to create themselves.
Israel’s medicinal marijuana business is booming. Incidentally, Israel is also home to some of the most advanced 3D printing technologies around. One startup, Syqe Medical leveraged both these evolving market segments to bring its unique Syqe medicinal plant 3D printed inhaler to market. A partnership signed in late 2015 with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries provides distribution, while the use of innovative 3D printers, such as Nano Dimension‘s Dragonfly, helps with the development process for this innovative – and stylish – product.
International Stem Cell Corporation, a California-based clinical stage biotechnolo ...
Precision ADM is the first Canadian metal Additive and Subtractive manufacturing services company to receive ISO 13485:2016 Quality Management System certification. This industry standard represents the comprehensive set of requirements for the design and manufacture of medical devices.
GE Healthcare has opened its first 3D printing lab, called the Innovative Design and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center for Europe, in Uppsala, Sweden. The center will use technologies including 3D printing and robotics to speed up the launch of new innovative products for the healthcare industry.
TreeD Filaments, a leading filament producer based in Italy, launches HealthFil, a new range of medical grade filaments developed specifically to meet the growing needs of the affordable medical 3D printing segment. In many areas of orthopedics, additive manufacturing represents the newest technological frontier, opening up several new opportunities in terms of product capabilities and accessibility.
Leading 3D printing software and service provider Materialise and Structo, a Singapore-based dental 3D printing solutions provider, announced the launch of Structo PrintWorks Pro. The software is a customized version of Materialise Magics Print and is aimed at simplifying 3D print file preparation for dental professionals using Structo’s Mask Stereolithography (MSLA) dental 3D printers.
Organized by Allied Academy the conference, the 3D Printing 2017 conference themed “Novelties in 3D Printing & Medical” is set to take place at the Hampton Inn Tropicana, in Las Vegas on the 5th and 6th of October. The conference seeks to explore the latest advancements for applications for medical professionals.
Dental Crafters, one of the major dental services laboratories in the USA, has acquired the ProMaker L5000 3D Printer from Prodways and now offers high-precision model printing services to other dental labs.
Building upon the expertise gathered from several fields of 3D printing research, the University of Pécs, Hungary, has been building a unique multidisciplinary 3D printing hub . In 2014, it established the PTE 3D Project, as a result of a regional strategic policy proposed by the University’s Rector. Headed by Dr. Miklós Nyitrai, the PTE 3D Project launched the first International 3D Conference in 2015. The success of the first two editions has led to the Third International Interdisciplinary 3D Conference, which will be held on October 5th and 6th, at the University’s Szentágothai János Research Center.
Materialise NV announced today that U.S. patients can now benefit from their patient-specific implants, 3D-printed in titanium for maxillofacial surgery. As the first 3D-printed titanium maxillofacial implants to receive clearance for the U.S. market, the decision marks a further extension to Materialise’s longstanding collaboration with DePuy Synthes, who will distribute the device in the U.S.
Z3DFAB relies on technology from EOS to make its digital production center the best in class for the medical, automotive, and aeronautic market.
Dreve just installed two new ProMaker L5000 D at its USA facilities in Eden Prairie and University of Kentucky. This brings the total of MOVINGLight 3D printers purchased from Prodways since the beginning of their collaboration to thirteen. The systems are used to produce Dreve’s dental models renowned for their highest quality in the market, through the Print@Dreve service.
Bbioprinter manufacturer Aether and University of South Australia (“UniSA”) have begun to collaborate for a project, funded by a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant, to pursue a 3D bioprinting research breakthrough in the field of contraception.
A team of scientists at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and Boston University has created a 3D blood-vessel-on-a-chip model to investigate endothelial barrier failure, and found that inflammation disrupts the connections between endothelial cells and mural cells, causing the mural cells to retract or even detach from their usual position surrounding blood vessels and leading to further leakage.
Camber Spine Technologies received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its SPIRA Open Matrix ALIF device, a unique, interbody fusion implant consisting of spiral support arches and Surface by Design technology. This clearance marks Camber’s tenth line of spinal implant systems to be released in the US market.
Shiro Studio’s ENEA walking stick is the result of comprehensive research and a collaborative project focused on developing an innovative walking stick which addresses the stigma and flaws often associated with walking sticks currently available on the market.
As reported by Todd Hollingshead on the official University blog, researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) are the first to 3D print a viable microfluidic device small enough to be effective at a scale much less than 100 micrometers. Microfluidic devices are tiny chips that can sort out disease biomarkers, cells and other small structures in samples like blood by using microscopic channels incorporated into the devices.
As reported by By Birgitte Dalgaard, on the University’s official blog, researchers from SDU (the University of Southern Denmark) have succeeded in 3D printing artificial bones that grow naturally together with the body’s own bones. In mouse experiments the artificial 3D printed bone even formed marrow. This opens up completely new possibilities for patients who need bone implants.
Sinterit, the world’s first producer of desktop SLS 3D printer, worked with a 3D designer to an exoskeleton arm – a solution that gives children with SMA the possibility to move their hands, draw, play and express themselves.
Working with established companies and organization as well as startups, Paul Sohi has acquired a unique experience in the field of wearable technologies. As a Fusion 360 evangelist, a lot of his work goes into designing products that leverage the latest technological trends as well as making sure that concepts can become real products and their business be scaled up.
The average heart pumps 100,000 times a day and rarely gets a break. When the heart breaks down, so does our body. That’s why it’s important as ever that we know the right methods and have the right tools to treat the heart when it fails. 3D printing helps develop medical devices to treat heart disease and allows companies, like Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI360), to continually innovate their designs.
Have you ever wondered what stepping in a hospital of the future will be like? What about the type of procedures you should expect to receive as treatment there? Focus Clinics reveal all with their new enter-your-age infographic, The Future of Healthcare, which you can access at the bottom of this page.
As reported by EnterpriseInnovation, the National University of Singapore Centre for Additive Manufacturing or AM.NUS was launched today by Mr Amrin Amin, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health, at the Additive Manufacturing Healthcare Summit.
The trade show organizer Tarsus have scheduled conference keynote speakers and topics for Ad ...
ETH researchers from the Functional Materials Laboratory have developed a silicone 3D printed heart that beats almost like a human heart. In collaboration with colleagues from the Product Development Group Zurich, they have tested how well it works. The artificial heart imitates a human heart as closely as possible.
EnvisionTEC, the first and largest manufacturer of high end DLP stereolithography 3D printers, also ...
A new study evaluated two additive manufacturing methods for producing either fine or coarse textured titanium implants and compared the strength of bone integration, interlocking, and torque in rats given one or both types of the implants in the distal femurs. The ability to apply this technology to customize implant surface textures and geometries to match the specific anatomy of human amputees is increasingly important as the trend in prosthetic devices moves toward transcutaneous osseointegrated implants rather than socket-cup fitting devices, according to an article published in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing website until July 20, 2017.
As a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, Richard Trimlett knows a few things about the heart. He and his colleagues in the U.K. perform 35,000 heart surgeries every year on average. Trimlett typically begins an open-heart surgery by stabilizing the heart with a suction device. But a minimally invasive procedure called keyhole heart surgery is even more delicate.
In a major 3D printing story that attracted the attention of Newsweek (a magazine also known for writing articles claiming that 3D printing is over), a nano 3D printing technology generally known as Two-Photon Photopolymerization (2PP) was used by Brenda Ogle, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, to create a patch that doctors could apply to help a patient heal in case of myocardial infarction (i.e. heart attack).
3D Systems have started a new certified partner program for medical device additive manufacturing companies to offer secure and premium services for medical device companies. rms Company is the first to join this new quality supply network and will focus on design, development and manufacturing of medical implants using 3D Systems’ Direct Metal Printing (DMP) technology.
The iFuse-3D Implant by SI-BONE combines the patented triangular shape of the iFuse Implant with a proprietary 3D-printed porous trabecular surface and unique patented fenestrated design to promote bone ongrowth, ingrowth, through growth and intra-articular fusion
For the millions of people every year who have or need medical devices implanted, a new advancement in silicone 3D printing technology developed at the University of Florida promises significantly quicker implantation of devices that are stronger, less expensive, more flexible and more comfortable than anything currently available.
As hospitals and surgeons continue to see the value and discover new applications for 3D printed models, more are bringing 3D printing operations to a point of care setting. To address the growing demand for 3D printing, Leuven, Belgium-based 3D printing solutions provider Materialise will host a course on implementing 3D Printing in Hospitals and in the medical field. The course will take place June 11-13, 2017 at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan.
Researchers from RMIT University’s Center f ...
SmarTech Publishing, the leading provider of in-depth industry analysis services to the additive manufacturing industry, has published its first ever true industry opportunity deep dive market research report on the burgeoning ‘additive orthopedics’ industry, revealing an area of well-defined opportunity for additive manufacturing that is being faced with sizeable change over the next several years.
Italy based NIDEK Technologies, one of the world’s largest producer of surgical eye equipment, is using the Objet500 Connex3 Multi-material, Color 3D Printer from AM industry leader Stratasys to accelerate clinical trial evaluations of its ophthalmological devices (vision diagnostic systems). The R&D division has reported a 75% reduction in prototyping costs, while cutting lead times by 50% compared to its previous methods.
Arfona, a dental 3D printing company from Brooklyn has been selected as the winner of the 201 ...
The bioengineers in Dino Di Carlo’s lab at the University of California, Los Angeles, spend a lot of time wrapped in head-to-toe suits and looking a bit jaundiced. The engineers work in a clean room, where a steady flow of filtered air removes particulates. Blue or purple light would harden the photosensitive material with which they work, so they limit lighting in the room to butter-yellow.
3D LifePrints is a 3D technology company that provides innovative solutions in emerging and expanding markets. The company is now looking to hire three new professional figures to support it in its primary purpose of supplying medical 3D printing services to the medical sector including the NHS, private hospitals, universities and medical training centres.
The new world of 3D bioprinted organs now includes implanted 3D bioprinted ovaries as bioprosthetic structures that, true to their design, actually ovulate, according to a study by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and McCormick School of Engineering. By removing a female mouse’s ovary and replacing it with a bioprosthetic ovary, the mouse was able to not only ovulate but also give birth to healthy pups. The moms were even able to nurse their young.
Global engineering and healthcare technologies company, Renishaw, is attending the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) Annual Scientific Meeting at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, UK. The conference is taking place between June 28th – 30th, as a platform for surgeons and industry professionals to present the latest research and development in the field. The company will present its latest developments in craniomaxillofacial implants and support a workshop run by three surgeons with whom it has collaborated. Renishaw can be found on stand 15.
The use of 3D printed medical models for pre-surgical simulation is starting to become commonplace. Exact numbers are not available and it may not be implemented in all hospitals yet, however almost all professionals are now aware of the possibilities and advantages it offers especially in terms of reducing time in the OR and for patient recovery.
In the labyrinth-like corridors at the University Hospital of Lübeck, one of the biggest in Germany, visitors tend to lose all sense of time and place. The future of medical technology is just next door, in the 3D printing lab of the Institute of Neuroradiology, headed by Prof. Peter Schramm. Here, Dr. Kemmling, staff neuroradiologist and researcher is using the high-precision stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer by Formlabs to create 3D printed artery models to personalize operations and reduce risks such as stroke.
Millions of people worldwide are impacted by debilitating foot pain, making it difficult to accomplish such daily activities as climbing stairs or taking a walk. Enter 3D printing. Stratasys Direct Manufacturing is now collaborating with Peacocks Medical Group, a leading medical equipment supplier and creator of Podfo orthotics, to maximize 3D printing for large-scale production of custom orthotics. As one of the world’s largest 3D printing and advanced manufacturing service providers, Stratasys Direct is giving millions of new patients access to life-changing orthotics – offering much needed pain relief and improvements in mobility.
According to Sagacious Research, 44 % of patents related to 3D Printing in the dental industry, focu ...
A cartilage-mimicking material created by researchers at Duke University may one day allow surgeons to 3D print parts for knee reconstruction that are custom-shaped to each patient’s anatomy. The study was published on the ACS Biomaterials journal.
axial3D, a leading innovator in web-based technology for 3D printing in healthcare, is p ...
AtlanticProCare, New England’s leading provider of customized mobility solutions and custom prostheses for amputees, has partnered with several fabricators to test 3D printed prostheses. The Maine based prosthetics supplier is currently working with three 3D printing companies — Extremiti 3D, Create O&P and Standard Cyborg — each of whom have unique offerings based on proprietary software, hardware and materials. AtlanticProCare provides custom created CAD designs for the printers and then tests the outputs. AtlanticProCare is the only prosthetics and orthotics practice in Maine participating.
The name Karl Leibinger Medizintechnik has been synonymous since 1979 with implants in craniomaxillofacial surgery. Karl Leibinger Medizintechnik is a company that belongs to the KLS Martin Group. Resorbable implants were added in 2000. The most recent development are patient-specific individual implants for correction through distraction and osteosynthesis in the event of traumas or deformities. Initially manufactured by conventional means, since 2013 these implants have also been manufactured additively. This is based on the LaserCUSING process from Concept Laser, whose M2 cusing machine is used at Karl Leibinger Medizintechnik. Behind this lies a simple basic approach which has the ability to transform surgery: for the individual patient rather than a standard solution. To manufacture patient-specific implants, Frank Reinauer, Head of Innovation and Production of Biomaterials at Karl Leibinger Medizintechnik, now consistently relies on additively manufactured implants.
The Johnson & Johnson’s 3D Printing Center of Excellence is launching new customized surgical tools, which will be available to surgeons in hospitals across the country this week. Headed by Sam Onukuri, a mechanical engineer with a specialty in metallurgy, the J&J Center is working to change the landscape of healthcare through 3D printing innovations.
Leading orthopedic implant manufacturer Stryker presented its Spine division’s latest 3D printed Tritanium Posterior Lumbar (PL) Cage and introduced a variety of new cage sizes at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting that just took place in San Diego.
Swedish researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy and Chalmers University of Technology have successfully induced human cartilage cells to live and grow in an animal model, using 3D bioprinting. The results will move development closer to a potential future in which it will be possible to help patients by giving them new body parts through 3D bioprinting. The results were recently presented in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open.
The new E-IDB material presented by EnvisionTEC at the IDS show, the largest dental show in the world, joins industry-leading dental library for production of dental and orthodontic models, castables, appliances and restorations. The company also announced expansion of the Vida 3D printer line for dental industry ewith high-speed cDLM model and a new partnership with 3Shape, whose 3Shape Trios scanner and Ortho Analyzer software work hand-in-hand with Vida for tray production.
3D Printing Industry leader Stratasys teamed up US Department of Veteran Affairs to launch one of the first collaborative 3D printing hospital networks in the nation. A significant industry milestone, this effort is the cornerstone of Stratasys’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
Nano Dimension Ltd., a leader in the field of 3D printed electronics, has supplied, in return for payment, its flagship DragonFly 2020 electronics 3D Printer to Syqe Medical Ltd. Syqe is the Tel Aviv-based developer of the world’s first selective-dose, pharmaceutical grade medical cannabis inhaler.
Oxford Performance Materials, Inc. (OPM), a leader in advanced materials science and high performance additive manufacturing (HPAM), today announced that it has received a Notice of Decision to Grant a Patent from the European Patent Office (EPO) for OPM’s invention on a “Customized Implant for Bone Replacement”, which leverages its OsteoFab implant manufacturing process, originally filed on December 5, 2011. The patent, which took effect on December 21, 2016, will be valid until August 7, 2029, and enables OPM to apply its high-performance additive manufacturing process to 3D print customized implants for bone replacement.
Stratasys, the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions market leader, today announced enrollment is now open for 3DHEART, an investigator initiated trial. 3DHEART, which stands for 3D Hearts Enabling A Randomized Trial, is a randomized, single-blind clinical trial to study the use of patient-specific 3D printed models in pre-operative planning for pediatric heart surgery. Stratasys is providing in-kind support with printing of the models to be used in the trial.
Researchers in Toulouse have successfully developed and implanted several customized, 3D printed stents that are anatomically identical to patients’ trachea and/or bronchi, offering hope to patients for whom standard prostheses are not a viable solution. This has been achieved through a collaboration between the Pulmonology Department at Toulouse University Hospital and Toulouse-based start-up company, AnatomikModeling.
Australian metal 3D printing research institution CSIRO has teamed up with Melbourne medical implant company Anatomics and UK doctors to carry out world-first surgery to implant a 3D printed sternum made of both both titanium and polymer into a British patient.
The Vascular Surgery Department at the Policlinico San Matteo Hospital in Pavia, Italy, partnered with University of Pavia‘s internal medical 3D printing laboratory to conduct over 20 cases of highly complex aortic surgeries.
3D4Medical, a leading developer of 3D medical technology applications, is delighted to announce the appointment of its Academic Review Board. Comprising esteemed leaders from the international academic community, the board will help to ensure the quality and accuracy of 3D4Medical’s content as the company evolves and scales its technology into the global marketplace.
A new study of bone formation from stem cells seeded on 3D printed bioactive scaffolds combined with different mineral additives showed that some of the scaffold mineral composites induced bone-forming activity better than others.
Using a printed 3D model as a guide, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles cardiologist Frank Ing Created a modified stent for an 18-month-old’s pulmonary artery surgery, giving a family hope.
After the introduction by Ottawa Hospital of an integrated 3D printing facility Canadian health facilities continue to adopt 3D printing. In Halifax, Nova Scotia, a collaboration between pediatric cardiologist Dr. Robert Chen and cardiac radiologist Dr. Deborah Thompson has resulted in the first 3D printed heart model of congenital heart disease (CHD) from IWK radiology images. The model allows cardiac surgeons to rehearse surgical management of complex anatomy before entering the operating room.
The Ottawa Hospital launched the first hospital based, multi-departmental Medical 3D Printing Program in Canada. This program is aimed at improving surgical planning and enhance education and research in collaboration with the University of Ottawa.
The series of 3D Printing conferences organized by Jakajima, that 3D Printing Business Directory and 3D Printing Media Network media partnered with this year, proved successful in attracting a very broad target of researchers, students, companies and enthusiasts form all over the world to explore the state of the art in medical, dental, pharmaceutical and biological 3D printing.
When the Economist, arguably one of the last mainstream media outlet to have never traded off quality for clicks, writes an article about 3D printing, things happen. It may not be The Economist itself that makes them happen but rather just the fact that the top British financial magazine knows exactly when is the right time to discuss a certain topic. Now it’s that time for bioprinting.
It seems like just a short time ago that the last, hugely succesfull, edition took place but it is already time for a new global Materialise conference. The Materialise World Summit 2017 will take place at the Square, in Brussels, on April 20th and 21st.
OssDsign AB, a Swedish designer, manufacturer and distributor of next generation 3D printed cranial implants as well as implants for facial reconstruction, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance by the US FDA for marketing and sale of OSSDSIGN® Cranial PSI in the USA. Anders Lundqvist, CEO of OssDsign, said: “Receiving FDA clearance […]
Leading 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has expanded its Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP®) service to include VSP Cranial for cranial and craniofacial procedures. VSP Cranial is 510(k) cleared for use in the operating room and enables surgeons to create a virtual pre-surgical plan that can be instrumented with sterilizable, patient-specific 3D printed anatomical models, guides and templates. The use of VSP Cranial on these complex and sensitive procedures enables doctors to plan around and become familiar with a patient’s specific anatomy, and is intended to facilitate the pre-surgical planning process as well as the transfer of that plan to the operating room. By supplying surgeons with informative digital tools and accurate 3D printed surgical guides, VSP Cranial is designed to help doctors deliver improved surgical outcomes.
3 Days of 3D Printing: the upcomiing 3D Printing Conference events will include 6 conferences focused on medical 3D printing & materials & a two-day medical exhibition, in 2 different locations set to take place at the MECC Maastricht & Brightlands Chemelot Campus, in the Netherlands.
The use of surgical 3D printed models for anatomical planning has a history going back more than ...
The Medicrea Group, worldwide leader pioneering the development and manufacture of personalized analytical services and implant solutions for the treatment of complex spinal conditions, today announced the filing of its 510(k) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of the Company’s 3D printed titanium interbody devices, with compatible UNiD™ Lab personalized surgical planning and analytical services.
In May 2016, 3Design New Zealand was approached by a woman who was searching for a company to produce a 3D printed prosthetic arm for her daughter Paige, who was born without her right hand and forearm. We are a 3D printing studio located in Tauranga, New Zealand, and we had never attempted something like this before. The project was ambitious, and despite our uncertainty over whether we could make the prosthetic, the possibility of helping Paige in any way we could was an opportunity we couldn’t turn away.
Celprogen Inc., a leader in the Stem Cell Research and Therapeutics industry for stem cell research since 2002, successfully finished manufacturing of a 3D bioprinted human pancreas from flexible Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) material scaffold that was populated with adult human pancreatic stem cells. These 3D printed human pancreases were coated and seeded with human adult pancreatic stem cells. The 3D pancreas scaffold was populated with three T225 human Pancreatic Stem Cells 36097-24-T225, and with human adult pancreatic cells 3002-04-T225; the scaffold was coated with ECM prior to seeding the cells. This flexible PLA scaffold allows the seeded pancreatic stem cells to potentially differentiate into an adult functional pancreas. The 3D print was reduced from an adult 18 year old pancreas to approximately 1/5 its original size.
I’m more tech-enthusiast than Sephora-junkie, so last year’s buzz about Mink’s 3D printed makeup definitely caught my attention, and got me thinking about how technology can improve the way we look, and more importantly, feel. But beyond the vanity and even skepticism (can a few layers of eyeshadow really be considered three-dimensional?), today’s advanced 3D printing and bioprinting applications, including 3D printed tissue, hair, and even packaging, are very attractive indeed.
Pioneering NanoParticle Jetting technology company XJet introduces groundbreaking ceramic inkjet printing
The 7th International Conference and Exhibition on 3D Body Scanning Technologies will take place from 30 November to 1 December 2016, in Lugano, Switzerland.
Partnership with Artec 3D aims to disrupt the manufacturing marketplace for anatomical 3D models by enabling widespread availability through 3D printing.
Toward the ultimate goal of engineering human tissues and organs that can mimic native function for use in drug screening, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine, a Wyss Institute team led by Core Faculty member Jennifer Lewis, Sc.D., has made another foundational advance using three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting.
Canoe and Surf: Two Italian athletes at the Paralympics and World Championships. Prostheses and guardians printed with TreeD Filaments materials by engineer Marco Avaro. Veronica Yoko Plebani went to the Paralympics in Rio. Fabrizio Passetti prepared for the World Championships in La Jolla, California. These are two Italian athletes who already have a rich collection of achievements and trophies, and they share one characteristic: they use prostheses 3D printed by biomedical engineer Marco Avaro, using TreeD Filaments materials. In his laboratory Avaro works with a material derived from Carbonium, an highly technical material developed specifically for this application. Veronica practices canoeing, Fabrizio surfing. “For Veronica I made a brace for the hand – explains Avaro- while Fabrizio needed a prosthesis in extremely high-performance carbon, capable of withstanding even considerable stresses“. Both athletes are thrilled with the result and are tangible evidence of the extraordinary results that can be achieved thanks to 3D printing. In the orthopedic laboratory Del Bene Fabio in Trieste, the engineer is working virtually non-stop and with TreeD Filaments he is able to create increasingly sophisticated prosthetics. “At the base there are high-quality, high performing filaments, made by Treed Filaments, and WASP printers. Now 3D printing has become something structural, calculated and extremely precise. We are printing parts with tolerances of two tenths of a millimeter.” It is important to note that a prosthesis is a tailored medical device and is subject to a whole series of rules and characteristics, based on prescriptions written by qualified physicians. Obviously we carried out a series of trial and error.The filaments are certified and in this period the specifications are being written.
The following sequence of steps is one example of the process:
Researchers in AMBER, the Science Foundation Ireland funded materials science centre, hosted in Trinity College Dublin, have created a process to support 3D printing of new bone graft material. This world first research, led by Professor Daniel Kelly and recently published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, could be used to regenerate large defects caused by tumour resections, trauma and infection, as well as inherited bone deformities. Professor Kelly’s research could also have numerous applications in craniomaxillofacial (the whole area of the mouth, jaw, face and skull) and orthopaedic surgery, especially in cases where tissues with complex geometries need to be regenerated, for example cases in the head, jaw or spine. Worldwide, 2.2 million procedures a year require a bone graft. At present there are currently two methods to provide a bone graft. The first is an autograft, where bone is transplanted from one site to another site within the same person. This type of grafting can be quite painful, and issues can arise at the site of extraction, as it heals. The second, an allograft is where bone is taken from a donor and transplanted. Complications can include donor site morbidity, poor availability of transplantable tissue and disease transfer from the donor to the recipient. AMBER’s new 3D printing method could replace traditional methods and eliminate these difficulties, by enabling the printing of larger and more complex shaped implants. Furthermore, the mechanical properties may be tailored for specific applications, which means bone grafts could be used in more complex cases such as in the head and jaw. AMBER researchers’ method consists of using 3D bioprinting technology to fabricate cartilage templates which have been shown to assist the growth of a complete bone organ. The AMBER team used 3D bioprinting to deposit different biomaterials and adult stem cells in order to engineer cartilage templates matching the shape of a segment within the spine. The team implanted the templates under the skin, where they matured over time into a fully functional bone organ with its own blood vessels. During skeletal development many of our bones are formed by a process in which cartilage templates are transformed into a vascularised and functioning bone organ. Professor Daniel Kelly, Investigator at AMBER and Director of the Trinity College Centre for Bioengineering, said: “This is new approach to tissue and organ engineering and we’re very excited. 3D bioprinting is a rapidly expanding area in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. While the technology has already been used to engineer relatively simple tissues such as skin, blood vessels and cartilage, engineering more complex and vascularised solid organs, such as bone, is well beyond the capabilities of currently available bioprinting technologies. Our research offers real hope in the future for patients with complex bone trauma or large defects following removal of a tumour. In addition, this bioprinting approach could also be used in the development of the next generation of biological implants for knee and hip replacements. Our next stage of this process is to aim to treat large bone defects and then integrate the technology into a novel strategy to bioprint new knees.” Professor Kelly will be presenting his research at the 5-Year Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI) Symposium on Monday September 5, where leading bioengineers, cancer scientists, clinicians and immunologists will discuss their next-generation research projects. For a full agenda of speakers, see:https://www.tcd.ie/biosciences/assets/pdf/agenda_tbsi_5anniversary_draft_tb.pdf A short video of the process can be found here, A short video of the process can be seen here,https://youtu.be/NWBa8OWgApM. The paper can be found in full here:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.201600182/full.
SmarTech Publishing has just published a new 140-page report showing where the money will be made with 3D printing in dentistry and identifying winners and losers in this segment. This new report assesses the revenues from 3D printers and related software, materials and services sold to the dentistry sector in 2016 will reach $1.6 billion but says that such revenues will grow to $3.7 billion by 2021.
In order to face disability, either patients or caregivers become Makers. One goal: find innovative and accessible solutions for day to day challenges. Inspired by a successful maker project by Fabio Gorrrasi, who designed and prototyped a tutor for his daughter suffering from SMA, Sanofi Genzyme launched the contest MaketoCare, focused to celebrate ideas helping to improve daily living. Accept the challenge: submit your project about disability and quality of life to the Call for Makers and, if selected, present your idea to the Maker Faire Rome 2016
EnvisionTEC, a leading global manufacturer of professional grade 3D printing solutions, announced today the launch of the new 3D Bioplotter Starter Series and their upgraded 3D-Bioplotter® Developer Series for researchers and scientists.
