News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
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.