A 29-year old, Dr. Lars Brouwers is a physician from Tilburg, Netherlands, who is on a mission to deliver 3D Printed Prosthetic Hands to children who faced war violence in Sierra Leone. For the charity, he is also delivering a desktop 3D Printer, Ultimaker 3 with cost of $3,000 but donated for free by Ultimaker. Using a 1995 Saab for three week long drive to Sierra Leone, they will supporting the charitable international Global Minimum organization, and its Innovate Salone program for school children, with their 3D printed prosthetic hands.

Researchers from Institute for Integrative Nanosciences (IIN) at IFW Dresden in are working to develop a Biohybrid Sperm Microbot, which could be used in the future to deliver anti-cancer drugs like doxorubicin hydrochloride to cancerous tumors in women’s reproductive tracts, and help in cancer like Cervical Cancer. The tests had already been successful, the team is just working to make the invisible drug delivery system a bit more accessible to hospitals and simultaneously monitor the spermbot’s movement inside the body in real time.

A team of researchers led by Professor Cheng Shujie from Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, China are unveiling precise 3D Printed Liver Models which have been 3D Printed using Stereolithography for lower costs & precision and can be used for aiding in surgeries. Using two high speed LCD-SLA 3D printers, the team was able to create detailed, life-sized liver model for approximately $80-$90.

A group of researchers from Japan’s Osaka University have developed a new bioprinting ink using a method based on hydrogelation mediated by horseradish peroxidase, an enzyme that can create cross-links between phenyl groups of an added polymer in the presence of the oxidant hydrogen peroxide. This bioprinting ink will be better substitute of Sodium Alginate as it will allow 3D Printing of more variety of scaffolds.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan has developed bone material specially designed for ethnic Chinese people using 3D printing to combine metal and ceramic composite materials with bionic bone structures, and is expected to come in 2018. The ITRI-developed 3D printed bone material is lightweight, hydrophilic, and fuses easily with existing bone. It’s porous and hollow and can be used to regenerate natural bone, plus it can be easily customized for personalized treatment.

The research team, Gil Weinberg, Minoru Shinohara, Chris Fink, and Levent Degertekin, have been working with amputee Jason Barnes, a musician, to develop a prosthetic hand based on Open Bionics’ open source design that can move each finger individually. Instead of electromyogram (EMG), they used Ultrasound to detect muscle movements which allowed them to create prosthetic that could move each finger individually.

An international research team collaborated to 3D Print Simple Liver Model using bioprinted tissue to develop a more accurate drug toxicity testing system. The new advancement can construct vascularized tissue, which is then able to mimic drug administration in vivo in 3D bioprinted liver tissue. This new model will allow scientists to observe the in vivo effects of drug absorption without having to actually set up a real in vivo study.

During the recent project, where researchers from Northwestern University were implanting a 3D Printed Working Ovary in mouse, Adam Jakus, a postdoctoral fellow in Professor Ramille Shah’s lab, was preparing 3D printing ink made from ovarian cells which he accidentally spilled, ultimately leading to discovery of “Tissue Paper”. This “Tissue Paper” can be used to restore normal hormone function to young cancer patients and restored fertility to women. Research team is planning to use it to repair organs and bioactive Band-Aid that would facilitate the healing of a wound.

Protosthetics and c2renew, both North Dakota based companies have announced their partnership and work together to 3D Print definitive Prosthetic Sockets with enhanced strength and quality. Developing a 3D Printing Filament, for the Sockets, as well for 3D Printing Orthotics, the two teams came together in creating a combination of industrial polymers and unique strengthening fibers.

Researchers from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah have developed the first working microfluidic device that’s small enough to be effective at a scale less than 100 micrometers using 3D Printing Technology. The key focus involved building their own 3D printer to print at a much higher resolution and using a new, specifically designed, low-cost, custom resin. Also, the digital light processing stereolithography (DLP-SLA) helped them seek low-cost approach for project.

A group of researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a new method of bioprinting that involves self-contained, self-supporting cells using a droplet-based 3D bioprinter. Researchers were able to successfully 3D printed human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells and ovine mesenchymal stem cells (oMSCs) at a high droplet resolution of one nL. The ability to 3D print with adult stem cells is believed to have a greater impact on regenerative medicine globally.

Two companies recently announced that they have received (510)k clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 3D printed titanium spinal implants. While Camber Spine Technologies from Pennsylvania received FDA clearance for its SPIRA Open Matrix ALIF device, an interbody fusion implant; the other one was Renovis Surgical Technologies from California for its posterior lumbar Tesera porous titanium interbody fusion systems.

The ENEA walking stick was designed and 3D Printed by Andrea Morgante, founder of Shiro Studio, a London-based architectural design firm, in 2009. The ENEA stick is developed from a porous internal structure that mimics trabecular bone tissue, and this porous internal structure allows the walking stick to be lightweight yet sturdy, as does its 3D printed construction. The walking stick is stylish yet strong, and also features a twiglike protrusion near one end so that it can be hooked onto desks, tables or counters.

Four students from MVJ College of Engineering, Bangalore had planned to 3D Print a Robotic Prosthetic Arm for their Final project in the college. But things were not easy, for which they turned to Fracktal Works, a Bangalore-based 3D Printing Company which helped the students to optimize their design for 3D printing and add a power source with 12 Gesture codes into the hand. The final device was 3D printed in PLA, in 40 parts, which was then assembled.

Researchers at Biomedical Research Institute of La Paz Hospital (IdiPAZ) in Spain are working to 3D print cornea substitutes, using a patient’s own stem cells and thereby reduce the huge global demand of over 10 million people to donate corneas. The project called ‘Cornal stroma fabrication’ will include use of steam cells from patients to be used for 3D printing the custom corneas and using tissue engineering to regenerate different layers of the cornea for Corneal Transplant.

Cellink, a Swedish 3D Printing Company founded by Erik Gatenholm and Hector Martinez Avila, has announced their partnership with CTI Biotech, a French company based in Lyon, to fabricate tumors that can be used for pharmaceuticals testing. The ability to mix their own inks with cells from patients’ cancers will allow them to produce tumors that can be subjected to intense research without endangering human lives and simultaneously remove animal testing.

Porimy 3D Printing Technology Co., Ltd, a start-up offshoot of the Kunshan Industrial Technology Research Institute, China, has announced their high-performance 3D Printer that can 3D Print Dentures after 3D scanning for a superior fit. They also released a ceramic slurry to 3D Print the prosthesis using the 3D Printer, which will cost around ¥700,000 to ¥800,000, translating to around $110,000 US.

Francisco Piedra, 61-year old man from Florida, was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis in 2016, for which he was given drug Heparin. The drug made situation worse and led to clots, forcing surgeons to amputate his hands and legs below knees, for which he approached Hanger Clinics from where he received Legs, but not Hands since they were above $100,000. Ultimately, eNABLE came to help and through Richard Brown, he received 3D Printed Prosthetic hand which took 20 hours each to 3D Print.

A team of 3D Printing experts at New York University (NYU) have started creating 3D Printed Masks for Facial Transplants Donors using accurate 3D Printing and Acrylic material. Since it is a tough decision to give up the face of deceased by family members, this 3D Printed Mask will encourage more people to agree to donate the faces of their dying family members for transplant purposes. Using Handheld Scanner to scan donor’s face, and then sending files to large 3D Printer, the final product is made using acrylic-based photopolymer.

Researchers from Imperial College London (ICL) have developed new 3D Printing Technique to create biological replicas for tissue regeneration. In collaboration with Kings College London, they experimented with 3D Printing and Cryogenics using solid Carbon Dioxide (dry ice) to quickly cool down hydrogel ink and Ultimaker 3D Printer. Once the ink softens, it forms a gel as soft as human tissue, which was then seeded with Dermal Fibroblasts with success.

Pedro, 16-year old, suffered stroke in 2012 which left him with his right hand affected by spasticity and lose fine movement. A team collaborated with Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and created a custom orthotic hand swimming fin for Pedro in less than a month using water soluble PVA material and Sigma 3D printer.

A team of researchers from TU Delft have developed hybrid materials which can be used to 3D Print Hip Implants with enhanced bone growth and increased life-span. The new implant will combine a conventional meta-biomaterial with an auxetic one, a complex stretching property. These 3D Printed Hybrid Implants are expected to have greater longevity and fix better than current hip implants.

BASF and CTIBiotech came together at the recent NYSCC Cosmetic Congress where they formed a collaboration to work towards 3D Bioprinting. Now, they have announced the technology for the bioprinting of tissue to create sebaceous glands which is expected to be a boon for Skin Care Industry. The research resulted in Ex-vivo production of physiological sebum and Regulation of sebum production with active ingredients.

Cameron Haight, a 5-year old now, was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, which caused his fingers and toes to be deformed and few amputated. Receiving her own 3D Printed Hand, she and her mother began 3D Printing e-NABLE hands for other children using the first design made by Cameron called Tool 5000. They have set up an NPO called Different Heroes to raise money for these 3D printed hands for children around globe.

Migrants trying to cross US-Mexico border are often apprehended and lose their live during the effort, and over 1000 unidentified in Pima Country, Arizona, were recently found. However, using the 3D Printing Technology by FARO, a 3D tech company, a group of students led by Joe Mullins from New York Academy of Art, have been working to reconstruct skulls of 8 such men. Once the reconstructions are complete, they are photographed and entered into National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUS).

3D Systems and Stryker announced their exclusive distribution partnership for anatomical craniomaxillofacial and Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) service. The agreement is specific to US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, will begin on February 1st, 2018. The partnership will help surgeons in developing customized surgical plans ahead of complex operations.

Researchers at EPFL in Switzerland have developed 3D printed microstructures with a 1.0 micron lateral and 21.5-micron axial printing resolution by detailing their approach towards existing laser-based microfabrication techniques which uses two-photon photopolymerization. The research team is now working toward clinical use for their technique while developing biocompatible photopolymers and a compact delivery system.

Researchers from Nagasaki University in Japan are working on scaffold-free approaches for an artificial trachea by assessing the circumferential tracheal replacement using scaffold-free trachea-like grafts, generated from isolated cells in an inbred animal model. Regenova 3D bioprinter from Cyfuse Biomedical was used to assemble multicellular spheroids in a tube-shaped artificial trachea.

A report was published by the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE), identifying 3 main types of 3D printed medical devices – Customizable, Standard and Custom-made. The report addresses risks and challenges of this technology and drafts an operational framework for these devices, over viewing their effectiveness, safety, cost, and legal issues.

Researchers with Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging at New York are working to develop 3D printed, personalized soft LAA occluding devices that are customized to a specific patient’s anatomy. The team used CT images of a person’s heart and a CAD program to isolate the surface of the LAA with a 0.5 mm thick shell, adding a valve for inflation and mechanical stabilization to the design. The molds for occluder are then printed for casting and filling.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow are using a chemical-to-digital converter to digitize the process of drug manufacturing to 3D print pharmaceuticals on demand. The digital code is used by the 3D printer to make a portable factory, which can make the drug by adding chemicals in a pre-defined, fail-safe sequence, making it possible for users to synthesize nearly any compound.

Emerging Implant Technologies (EIT), a German company, famous for its Cellular Titanium technology, has received FDA clearance again, to expand their EIT Cellular Titanium Cervical Cage to be used in multiple contiguous cervical levels (C2 to T1) and this is the first multi-level 3D printed cervical cage to enter the US market. It is designed to be used with autogenous and/or allogenic bone grafts to facilitate fusion, and should be used with supplemental fixation.

Pauline Fenton, a 22-year-old mother from Belfast was living with end-stage kidney disease, and was completely reliant on dialysis until her 45 year old father; William volunteered to donate one of his kidneys. William had a potentially cancerous cyst on the kidney he was going to donate which was successfully removed using axial3D printed model of his kidney, and the transplant took place successfully.

Temasek Polytechnic, a university in Singapore, is developing a new technique for better, faster, and cheaper Dental Crowns and Bridges, as a result of 3D printing. The technique involves creation of a traditional impression that is then turned into a form, which is scanned to create a digital model and in turn, the mold for shaping the exterior and interior metal form to attach the prosthetic to the receiving tooth.

3D printing solutions company Stratasys worked with the VA Center of Innovation (VACI) to install 3D printers in five VA hospitals across the country, helping veterans with custom 3D printed prosthetics and orthotics. Hand therapist Mary Matthews, with the help of Ben Salatin (Rehabilitation Engineer) made a 3D printed one piece orthotic for Newton, making it more comfortable and damage proof with increased aesthetics.

Researchers at Ghent University have developed a 3D bioprinted model of a scaffold from PLA that more accurately replicates the size, porosity and mechanical and biochemical properties of peritoneal metastasis to treat Cancer. Cancerous cells are then cultivated for testing after which they implanted their model in the peritoneal cavities of a mice to test its working in vivo.

3D biotechnology company regenHU with Wako Automation combined to exploits the potential of cell-based therapies and 3D bioprinting to develop biomedical products for drug discovery and regenerative medicine. They will use their specialization of bioprinting solutions, laboratory automation and high content imaging for the same. They demonstrated their technologies at SLAS Conference in San Diego.

Researchers at A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP) at Nanyang Technological University have developed a way to create pigmentation in 3D printed skin by using bioprinting to control the distribution of melanin-producing skin cells, on a biomimetic tissue substrate. They used three different types of skin cells and drop on demand method of bioprinting to create the pigmented skin.

Luke Massella was born with Spina Bifida, a medical condition that causes gap in spine, which required multiple surgeries to be able to walk. However, he faced bladder malfunction and kidney failure, for which Dr. Anthony Atala of Boston Children’s Hospital developed 3D Printed Bladder using Massella’s bladder tissue and modified 3D inkjet machines. The 14 hour surgery of transplantation of 3D Bioprinted Urinary Bladder was successful saving the now 27 year old Massella.

Dr. Christina Salas, PhD, a scientist at the University of New Mexico, is working on 3D Printed Ligaments which can allow for less-invasive surgery, and could be a more permanent solution as the synthetic 3D printed ligament would not wear out or weaken. Using the CT or MRI scan of patient’s damaged joint, an exact replica using 3D Bioprinting can be produced for replacement, and Dr. Salas has received a two-year, $150,000 grant for the research.

Foundations like the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Foundation and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are working round the clock to provide new life to more than 1 million victims of war in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Jordan by providing them 3D Printed Prosthetics. Using the 3D Scanning Technology and 3D Printing simultaneously, the parts can be printed without even doctor-patient meeting, while also cut down the heavy cost of traditional prosthetics that tend to be unfit and uncomfortable to the wearer.

A research team at American Association of Physicists in Medicine recently published an article revealing how effective 3D Printing is for producing Organ Phantoms (models of organs to test things like proper medication dosage). Three questions were explored including the resolution of 3D Printing, materials used against scanning modality and feasibility of radioactive solutions as per 3D Printing is concerned. 50 studies conducted later concluded that 3D Printing undoubtedly has some limits, but is the fastest growing and can be definitely considered the best approach for Organ Phantoms as the new materials are unveiled.

Under a thesis by a student named Cristian Ghibaudo, 3D bioprinting was discussed regarding the better wound treatments under Onskin project based on microfibrillar cellulose, or MFC, and sustainable materials. The concept was developed in four modules: the moisturizing module (M1), the absorbent module (M2), the barrier module (M3) and the support module (M4). Using BioX 3D Printers, several wound dressing prototypes were 3D printed out of which the Flat prototype was selected concluding it had good mechanical properties and high resolution, plus it printed in only 30 minutes.

A group of researchers describe how they designed a novel multi-tool snake-like robot, called the i2 Snake (Intuitive Imaging Sensing Navigated and Kinematically Enhanced robot) for minimally invasive intraluminal surgery. They used a rolling-joint design, a bio-inspired mechanism that consists of two circular surfaces rolling against each other, however, standard rolling joints could slip, resulting in control inaccuracies or a dislocated joint. The researchers used an Mlab 3D printer from Concept Laser to manufacture a prototype of the optimized rolling joint which was then characterized in terms of precision and manipulation forces.

UCLA and Bioprinting Company Aether have collaborated to work towards 3D Printed Artificial Muscles by working together to develop technologies for faster, easier fabrication of soft artificial muscles and other multi-material structures. Aether will work on optimizing the Aether 1 bioprinter and its computer vision capabilities to automate the process of 3D printing soft robotic devices, improve print quality and ease of use and has also planned to launch software that will allow users to create 3D printable organs from medical images with the push of a button in around 2019.

The largest orthodontic laboratory in the United Kingdom is Ashford Orthodontics, which was founded in 2001 by Sean Thompson. Working with Formlabs Form 2 and aligners models, the new scans sent by the clients are 3D Printed overnight which are then delivered to the clinicians arriving within the next 48 hours. They have gone fully digital, abolishing the traditional route which helps the client in cost and time savings.

A team of researchers at University of Minnesota researchers are working on what they call “Bionic Eye” by Custom 3D Printing photoreceptors on a hemispherical surface. The process consumed hemispherical glass dome, silver particle base ink, semiconducting polymer materials and approximately one hour. With 25% efficiency, they are now planning to create prototypes that are even more efficient and could be worked upon for implantation into a real eye, thereby restoring or improving sight.

The story of 5-year old Cameron Haight was undoubtedly inspiring, how he was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS) which cause his finger bones to fuse, skin webbing, indentations on one wrist and fingers and even amputations. With help from eNABLE and Robo R1+ 3D Printer, he started 3D Printing prosthetics for other children in need and now through Different Heroes, a non-profit organization raised by Cam and his parents, they were able to gift their favorite football team Carolina Panthers idol with an adult-sized version of his own 3D Printed Panthers Prosthetic Hand.

Florida-based Captiva Spine Inc., a privately owned medical device organization that was founded in 2007 has recently received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its 3D Printed TirboLOX-L Titanium Lumbar Cages. TirboLOX-L Titanium Lumbar Cages uses 3D printing to form interbody fusion devices, made out of titanium alloy, with a double layer organic lattice structure and include the benefits such as the bone’s ability to successfully grow within its architecture, which can then help it achieve good kinematic properties.

Pole-Ergo, a group of French occupational therapists are working on a new project, an Adaptable Swtich or Contactor, which is a button that assists disabled people to have access over electronics. Through motor gestures without precision, it helps disabled people have way better access over computers, tablets, mobile phones or other devices. Using 3D Printing, Pole Ergo created a 3D Printed Contactor that can be modified according to the user’s motor characteristics, habits or tastes.

Endocon, a Germany-based medical device company and a GE Additive customer, has started 3D Printing a new device called Acetabular Cup Cutter for surgeons to remove hip replacement cups with cost-effectiveness and product reliability with better surgical experience. Using GE Additive’s Concept Laser Mlab Cusing 100R, which uses direct metal laser melting (DMLM) technology, Endocon 3D prints the blades for its endoCupcut in 17-4 PH stainless steel.

A Chilean startup Copper3D had recently unveiled PLACTIVE, an antibacterial 3D printing filament designed for the production of medical devices such as prosthetics and braces. Taking interest in PLACTIVE, the NASA Nebraska Space Grant is working with the University of Nebraska Omaha and Copper3D on a study of PLACTIVE and states the new material has already passed very exhaustive laboratory tests with +99.99% elimination of most dangerous bacterial strains.

Munam Arshad from Pakistan under his thesis for MS Mechanical Engineering, recently outlined the effectiveness of 3D Printing in drug delivery via a vibrating mechanism that moves the medications through small ‘slits.’ Using PMC-744 as the material of choice due to its biocompatibility and flexibility, the research team 3D Printed the final model using SOLIDWORKS and PLA, featuring one system with both a haptic motor and drug reservoir with drug release area .

Paul D’Urso, MD, a neurosurgeon at Epworth Healthcare and the Executive Chairman of Australian medical device company Anatomics, together with Dr. Dan Rowe, engineers from the medical device company designed a 3D printed, patient-specific metacarpal implant to replace a patient’s two missing metacarpals and missing capitate that had resulted from his injury.  The implant was designed with titanium mesh and patient’s hand reconstruction surgery took place at Greenslopes Private Hospital in Queensland.

Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) in Barcelona developed a new method of designing porous scaffolds for FDM 3D printing using a dual-extruder Sigma 3D printer from BCN3D to fabricate three sample scaffolds out of PLA, and then measuring their pore size and total porosity. They applied their model to a disc shape and defined three different variables: Distance between parallel planes; Number of base points for columns on each plane and Radius of each column.

Dr. Rajiv Shah, an Orthopedic Surgeon at Global Hospital along with 3D Printing Startup 3D Post in Vadodara, India, has successfully implanted a 3D printed implant in a trauma patient which was first of its kind since it was the first patient-specific 3D printed trauma implant through a total talus replacement. The implant was 3D Printed using EOS M 280 3D Printer using titanium as the implant material for a 32-year old man from Guajarat, India who suffered an accident that resulted in the loss of his talus bone.

Biomedical engineer Dr. Joseph Potkay is working with high-resolution 3D Printing company Old World Labs on a research funded by the VA (Veteran Affairs), to create a prototype of the 3D printed artificial lung, which will be about a half-inch cube in size, hopefully able to fit in a backpack and be used for a week. It will be the first truly wearable artificial lung that’s compatible with living tissue and can provide both short- and long-term respiratory support, and microfluidic artificial lungs. The device has been tested in rabbits, with sheep testing planned for the future.

A group of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) are working on using an SLA 3D printing method to manufacture temporary teeth restorations. Temperature Controlled Mask image projection-based stereolithography (TCMIP-SL) processes use a set of horizontal planes to slice a 3D object, and each slice is converted into a 2D mask image. Then, a 2D patterned light beam, which is controlled by a digital micromirror device (DMD), is projected on the surface of a photocurable material, which is then cured layer by layer to build the 3D object.

A group of researchers compared conventional and digital additive manufacturing of hard occlusal stabilization splints (SS) using technical and clinical parameters and 14 subjects underwent sequence of tests and questionnaires for 12 weeks. On a scaled of great discomfort,  Conventional had a score of 42 while Additive Manufacturing performed 15, meaning 3D Printed Stabilization Splints are far more comfortable and preferred over the conventional ones.

A team from the Polymer Materials for Tissue Engineering and Transplantology Laboratory of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) in a joint project with researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences and Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University, has developed innovative, polymeric medical materials that can be used to fix human organs that have undergone trauma. The team have created a porous, 3D material made of chitosan – a bone tissue analog – and collagen which can mimic the body tissues and prevent itself from being rejected by the immunity of human body.

A group of researchers developed an inexpensive, 3D Printable Neuraxial Anesthesia Phantom through the use of free/libre/open-source (FLOS) software and data from CT scans to create a 3D model of the lumbar spine, which was then modified, put inside a digitally designed housing unit, and 3D printed out of PLA on a desktop system. The so 3d Printed Neuraxial Anesthesia Training Model cost only $13 and 25 hours of non-supervised 3D printing and two hours to assemble it, much less than creating a Simulab phantom.

A collaborative team of researchers from the National Taiwan University Hospital, the China Medical University Hospital, and Asia University have created a new bone substitute- Calcium Silicate Bone Scaffold that have both osteoconductive and osetoinductive potential to be used for bone grafts/repair required in people suffering from bone defects and disorders around the globe. The team explored the effects of various loading methods on novel grafting material bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), which was loaded with a mesoporous calcium silicate (MesoCS) scaffold created with FDM 3D printing on a 3D bioprinter from GeSiM.

A group of researchers from the Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences & Hospital in Bangalore, India evaluated the marginal accuracy of Cobalt-Chromium copings (thin covering of the tooth’s crown portion) fabricated using DMLS, computer-aided milling, traditional casting, and ringless casting and comparatively analyze the marginal discrepancy. They used typodont resin model made of silicone impression material and 40 copings, for which they used 3D laser scanner from 3Shape to obtain an indirect impression of the tooth model, and then used the data to design the coping in 3Shape’s CAD software program, before they were 3D printed on an EOSINT M 270 3D printer from EOS.

A study conducted at Technical University of Munich (TUM) described their virtual workflow, and also analyzed how effective semi-automated intraoral molding plate generation, or RapidNAM, is for helping to treat Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP). A 3D triangulation scanner from 3Shape in Denmark was used to digitalize the casts, and after creating a graphical user interface (GUI), an algorithm automatically detected the alveolar ridge, in order to find the monthly growth rate in the anatomical study of 32 healthy newborn babies. Special 3D software was used to help with plate expansions during the manual plate molding.

Italian Startup Youbionic was founded by Federico Ciccarese, and they have come up with a newer version of their Youbionic arm that is a Robotic Arm made of 3d printing and designed to perform all movements that a human Arm can accomplish. The arm is 3D printed out of PLA and uses Actuonix Linear Actuators. The company has rolled out the 3D Print Files of the arm for $149 and files for hand for $99 with hopes to fund his team’s further development.

A group of researchers from Tokyo Dental College set up a “One-stop 3D printing lab” at the college for the purposes of quickly and inexpensively designing and 3D printing models for oral and maxillofacial surgery. The researchers created their One-Stop 3D printing Lab by generalizing the software and hardware around its inexpensive Value3D MagiX MF-2000 desktop 3D printer from MUTOH Industries Ltd. The researchers determined, by 3D printing dental models daily, that the amount of preparation cost and modeling material can be lowered by increasing the laminating pitch.

A group of researchers from Imperial College, London is studying how malaria is transmitted, which requires mosquito test subjects to be infected with Plasmodium gametocytes – the blood stage parasites that actually cause malaria. In a Standard Membrane Feeding Assay (SMFA) test, an artificial membrane feeding apparatus, which simulates the host’s skin and body temperature, is used to get the mosquitoes to eat reconstituted blood containing the gametocytes. The researchers created the two-part membrane feeder design using the free, open source CAD modeling program Art of Illusion, then had Shapeways 3D print the parts out USP VI medical-grade “Fine Detail Plastic” acrylic resin (VisiJet M3 Crystal).

Once a person suffers myocardial infarction or heart attack in local language, some part of heart is destroyed permanently at cellular level which cannot recover or regenerate. However, scientists have developed 3D printed cardiac patches that can be used to repair hearts damaged by heart attacks, but only about five have been produced worldwide. A group of researchers 3D printed a world-first stretchable microfiber scaffold with a hexagonal design to which added specialized stem cells called iPS-Cardiomyocytes, which began to contract unstimulated on the scaffold. The work has been demonstrated on the actual hearts of pigs and being planned for human trials.

7-year-old Isaiah Onassis Goberdhan, son of Barnaby Goberdhan had an aggressive tumor in his palate and nasal cavity and required surgery to remove it and approached Dr. Neha A. Patel, MD, Nortwell Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Working with Todd Goldstein, PhD, a Northwell Health Researcher, Dr. Patel create a personalized 3D rendering of Isaiah’s palate, using his CT and MRI scans and Formlabs technology was used to 3D print an anatomical model with the tumor, and one with it removed, in order to help the doctors and the family physically visualize the entire procedure ahead of time.

Linh Nam, a Harvard College Student was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a cancerous tumor in the bone when she was just ten years old and had a section of bone removed from her leg with a gap left and upcoming 10 surgeries over a decade. However, she joined with Hala Zreiqat, biomedical engineering professor, to work on a project that aims to create a biocompatible, artificial material with the same strength and porosity as real bone using 3D printing. Professor Zreigat’s team finally found a way to generate a porous core of a novel multi-component ceramic for bone implants using 3D printing which will be available to public around 2019.

Researchers at TU Wien (Vienna) have 3D printed a placenta on a chip to specifically study the permeability of the placenta and gain a better understanding of how it works. They developed a special femtosecond laser-based 3D printing process to produce customized hydrogel membranes directly within microfluidic chips, which are then populated with placenta cells. The researchers can use the chip to closely monitor biological parameters such as the pressure, temperature, geometry and nutrient supply of the mini-placenta and also test different drugs on the 3D printed tissue, observing the progression of diseases and the rate of cure.

A team of researchers based at the University of Utah worked on unmet clinical needs of 3D Printing and explained the needs in terms of structural support for skeletal and tubular organs, novel drug delivery strategies, organ-on-a-chip platform and finally, multimaterial 3D printing, which can help speed up the creation of bioelectronic constructs to impart active functionalities to an otherwise passive construct. Through the research, they addressed how 3D Printing Potential can be explored furthermore to increase compliance and comfort in terms of human satisfaction.

Researchers from FabRx are working on using 3D Printing to create personalized medicine for patients that could reduce the adverse effects to individuals. Though FDM 3D Printing has potential, the high extrusion temperature limits the potential active ingredients to only heat-stable ones, it was still chosen over SLA 3D Printing since it was unsafe. A regenHU 3D bioprinter was used to print paracetamol into three different tablet geometries – solid, ring and mesh and the results could be invariably beneficial if successful for the individual personalization of medicines.

Tawfig Khoury, MD, an otolaryngology (ear and throat) resident at Duke University makes 3D printed medical models of the ear’s delicate temporal bones used for the purposes of medical training while Dr.Khoury works on his 3D printed models at the university’s Innovation Co-Lab Studio, previously described as a “creativity incubator,” also includes 3D scanning equipment, CNC machines and laser cutters, digital modeling workstations, and a number of other electronics. In order to receive and handle requests for 3D prints from around the world, the studio uses 3DPrinterOS, which gives users access to an online, live-streaming video of the project while it’s being 3D printed.

ETH Zurich researchers are working on using 3D Printing Technology to create Magnets that can be used in Rotary Blood Pumps, which are the only option for patients suffering from end-stage heart failure. The traditionally available pumps tend to have the side effects of hemolysis and thrombus formation, therefore they created a filament made from thermoplastic combined with isotropic NdFeB powder, which was then used to 3D print a prototype of a turbodynamic pump with integrated magnets in the impeller and housing. The pump was 3D printed in one piece on a low-cost, consumer-level 3D printer (a Prusa i3 MK2 with a multi-material upgrade, to be exact), then the magnetic components were fully magnetized in a pulsed Bitter coil, added with MagFil, the 3D Printed Magnets, and whole process took 15 hours.

A team of engineers and medical researchers from the University of Minnesota (UMN) are working on creating Neural Scaffold that can help patients with spinal cord injury alleviate pain and gain control over functions like bladder, bowel, and muscle control again. The prototype contains 3D Printed Silicone Guide acts as a scaffold, over which neuronal stem cells are 3D Printed, which then later differentiate into neurons, and then it is implanted into the injured part of spinal cord.

Additive Manufacturing Strategies event will be going live on 29^th-31^st January, 2018 in Boston, which will revolve around the trends and future of 3D Printing in Medicine and Dentistry. With workshops, startup competitions and exhibitions, SmarTech analysts giving overviews of developments; the event will aim consultants, business development people, leaders in manufacturing and operations people who have a significant role in future of 3D Printing in medical field.

3D printed amphibious prosthetic leg called The Fin was developed months back by Northwell Health with help from Long Island design firm Eschen Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratories and Composites Prototyping Center. The Fin is a carbon fiber 3D printed prosthetic attachment that allows amputee swimmers to move from land into the water, without having to switch up devices in between and it’s also designed to provide them with a more natural sensation as well. The device is expected to roll out soon and will greatly help the veterans swim again and recover part of their lifestyle.

Dr. Pardraig Strappe, a microbiologist in central Queensland along with a team of researchers at CQUniversity, is using 3D printing, human stem cells, and crocodile cartilage to develop a 3D Printed Joint Cartilage to treat arthritis and joint injuries. The process involves extracting growth factors from crocodile cartilage, removing the proteins that set off a human immune response and adding adult stem cells using CELLINK 3D bioprinter.

Ti6Al4V, a biomedical implant, is a titanium alloy with biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and excellent corrosion resistance but poor wear resistance, corrosion and stability. The researchers from Jiangsu University used Laser Peening (LP), a laser surface modification technology, to modify Ti6Al4V and the results concluded that the surface micro-hardness value of the LP-treated Ti6Al4V sample increased by 25.7%, showing that LP was able to strengthen its surface. Additionally, the results of the experiment showed that after being treated with LP, the specimen did have better wear resistance than the untreated one; laser energy and impact time also helped improve the wear resistance of the LP specimen.

Liqun Ning, a post-doctoral fellow in the Tissue Engineering Research Group at the University of Saskatchewan, is working on 3D Printing Scaffolds of Schwann Cells, the supporting cells in the nervous system that can force nerve cells to grow properly, which were created using the Canadian Light Source center at the University of Saskatchewan. The scaffolds are expected to stimulate new, healthy nerve cells to grow. The results of the study show that the 3D printed scaffolds can promote the alignment of the Schwann cells and provide cues to direct the extension of dorsal root ganglion along the printed strands.

Researchers at New York University developing 3D Printed Ceramic Implants that dissolve slowly within the body, stimulating bone to grow in their place, thereby helping in restoring the bone defects that cannot be filled with allograft or autografts. The ceramic implant contains beta tricalcium phosphate, similar to components in natural bone, making the implants resorbable over time and are coated with dipyridamole, a blood thinning agent that stimulates bone growth and attracts bone cells to the implant.

Oxford Performance Materials Inc., a Connecticut-based company known for its 3D Printed Implants close to bones with osteoconductive properties and PEKK, has recently been accredited as a foreign medical device manufacturer by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Now able to serve over 14 countries of Asia in a partnership with JSR Corp. of Tokyo, OPM looks forward to expanding the reach of 3D Printing to far horizons.

Atrial Fibrillation or irregular rapid heartbeats affect many people worldwide with major causing death, and surgeons use cardiac catheter devices to map a heart’s electrical activity, which can also be used to detect rhythm disturbances in a patient’s heartbeats and ultimately identifying which part of heart is affected. The one size of these cardiac catheter devices makes it hard to catch these irregular heartbeats due to missed signals and spotty connections. A team of researchers from Stanford University has developed customized 3D Printed Cardiac Catheter Devices that fit each individual’s heart by recording an image file of the heart during an MRI or CT scan.

3D Bioprinting company Allevi, formerly known as BioBots and California-based 3D printing and space technology firm Made In Space, have partnered to develop the Allevi ZeroG – the first 3D bioprinter in space launched at the recent ISS Conference in San Francisco, and also found the first two users of the new 3D bioprinting platform in Astronauts, Mark Vendei Hei and Randy Bresnik. Allevi also developed a compatible extruder, fittingly called the ZeroG bio-extruder, that is able to be outfitted onto Made In Space’s Additive Manufacturing Facility currently on board the ISS.

Next 21 K.K., after receiving a commercialization approval in Japan and Europe, has announced formal approval for a new technology to 3D print synthetic bone grafts, called CT-Bone, which is a 3D printable, calcium phosphate implant that’s actually converted into real bone by the patient’s own body. After a CT-scan, Next21 K.K.’s biomedical team create a patient-specific implant (PSI), which can incorporate porosity and match the patient’s anatomy perfectly, which helps facilitate bony ingrowth and good bone-to-implant contact.

India is progressing towards 3D Printing too and seeks to harvest the benefits of this technology. Recently, two children in Manipal, India received 3D printed prosthetic limbs from the brand new 3D Printing Facility called Hastha Centre for Congenital Hand Differences, at the Department of Orthopedics at Kasturba Hospital. The prosthetics made at the center can be customized to any level of amputation, whether above or below the elbow or for missing or shortened fingers.

Paul D’urso, MD, Anatomics Founder and a neurosurgeon at Epworth Healthcare, had reported 700 spinal fusion procedures at the recent 3DHEALS conference in San Francisco. They also developed Atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation, an effective technique for arthrodesis and discussed how biomodelling and 3D printing are both useful tools for pre-surgical planning, developing titanium implants and patient-specific tools, and intraoperative stereotaxy – a minimally invasive surgical procedure which uses a 3D coordinate system to locate small targets inside the body and then perform an action, like an ablation, biopsy, injection, or implantation.

Staff at Orthoparc in the Netherlands have developed a method of patient-centered total knee replacement through Surgical Guides that helps make the surgery less invasive, removing the need to drill into the femur canal as in traditional knee replacement surgery procedures and simultaneously increase the comfort of patient. These surgical guides are produced using data gathered about an individual patient’s knee and are fabricated in-house on a 3D printer. When placed upon the patient during surgery, they guide the surgeon to exactly where cuts need to be made in relationship to where the knee is resting.

A group of researchers from the Netherlands finished a validation study to test the accuracy of 3D printed anatomical models for surgical planning purposes which included dissecting nine human cadavers to acquire three specimens each of a pelvis, hand, and foot, and inserting Titanium Kirschner (K-) wires in them to mark important anatomical landmarks. Using a Siemens Somatom Definition AS 64-slice CT to scan the specimens, and then using Phillips Intellispace Portal software for 3D reconstructions, the models were 3D Printed using an Ultimaker 3 and a Makerbot Replicator Z18 using PLA material.

Local company BioArchitects was founded by young entrepreneur, Felipe Marques four years ago with investment in medical 3D Printing to harvest the technology. The company now uses metal 3D printing technology to create patient-specific, biocompatible implants that replace hard tissue and allows doctors to actually be able to see and manipulate a replica of what they will find when they operate. The BioArchitects also performs in field of medical training, simulated operations and prosthetics, with their titanium plate being first of its kind to be approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A group of students from Santa Clara University have developed a partially 3D printed wristband prototype that uses body heat, ambient air and heat sinks to create a temperature difference across thermoelectric modules, which generates extremely low voltage electrical power required to run the device itself. The device consists of four subsystems: power generation, voltage boost, battery charging and wearability and the device was 3D Printed using Formalabs Form 2 3D printer.

Politecnico di Torino student, Viola Sgarminato in his thesis, used a combination of electrospinning and 3D printing with an EnvisionTEC 3D-Bioplotter to develop scaffolds that would promote healing by electrically stimulating skin cells. These wound repairing and dressing scaffolds were then seeded with cells, which were then evaluated 24 and 72 hours later. The composite wound dressings were also examined using a scanning electron microscope to verify the adhesion of the fibers to the scaffold, and good results were shown: even if subjected to mechanical stretching, the fibers remained attached to the substrate.

A 72-year-old woman with sciatica and complex L5–S1 pseudoarthrosis 12 months after L2–S1 fixation surgery for symptomatic degenerative scoliosis required surgery to fix the complications, for which a surgical team approached her with 3D Printing. CT data from patient scans was used to develop models of the bony lumbosacral spine for pre-operative planning along with a patient-specific 3D printed titanium lumbrosacral fixation implant. 3D printing was also used to create a stereotactic drill guide. The sixth-month follow up showed promising results as explained by the team of Australian researchers.

The CYBER Team, or Cyber-Physical Design and Additive Manufacturing of Custom Orthoses, is funded by America Makes, the national accelerator for 3D printing and additive manufacturing based in Youngstown, Ohio, and was formed in 2016 by Stratasys, the University of Michigan, and Altair Engineering, aiming at Orthotic needs for Veterans. The CYBER Team is working on project, with a total budget of $2 million to combine cloud-based designs and Stratasys’ FDM technology to reduce orthotic outpatient visits from three to one by developing 3D printing-specific functionality, built on optimization software package Altair OptiStruct and OptiStruct for digitalization.

The PAMIS project aims at improving scoliosis surgery through the development of 3D Printing Technology. Using 3D scans of the patient’s spine, patient specific implants can be 3D printed, using lightweight, biocompatible materials and used for Scoliosis surgery. CITD, a Spanish engineering company, has taken over PAMIS Project with plans to further revolutionize the technology with their expertise in additive manufacturing for healthcare.

A Research paper was recently published by Preethy Ani Jose, with the Oxford College of Pharmacy, and Peter Christopher GV, from pharmaceutical company Strides Shasun Limited in Bangalore, concerning the challenges faced by Pharmaceuticals when being introduced with 3D Printing. The paper presents regulatory agencies expectations, limitations, problems in establishing such setups for production of drug products, etc. The research paper also discusses how 3D Printing faces challeneges such as proper testing of Design and Manufacturing Process Considerations, validating the 3D printing process and software to determine the level of accuracy, and documentation in order to confirm that any products conform to existing guidelines.

Duke University Football Team’s star quarterback, Daniel Jones, fractured his clavicle on September 8^th, when Clark Bulleit and Kevin Gehsmann, seniors of team started working on Custom-Fit 3D Printed Wrist Brace for Jones, finally creating nine prototypes altogether, using a basic 3D printer before turning to a PolyJet printer for the final product. The 3D Printed Brace prevents damage to the initial fracture point and helped Jones return to the field.

Researchers from University of Colorado Boulder have developed a 3D printing technique with SLA that allows for localized control of an object’s firmness, which can potentially pave way for tissue 3D printing technique. The layer-by-layer printing method with fine-grain and programmable control over rigidity allows the researchers to mimic the complex geometry of highly structured yet pliable blood vessels. The 3D printer used by the researchers is capable of printing biomaterials as small as 10 microns, or one-tenth the width of a human hair.

A group of researchers from Jiangsu University tested Laser Peening (LP), a laser surface modification technology, to increase the wear resistance of most common titanium alloy for implants, the Ti6Al4V alloy. Cut samples of alloy of 40 x 20 x 4 mm rectangular shapes, with 4 mm thickness were treated with Laser Peening and then tested for surface roughness and micro-hardness at Nanjing University of Aerospace and Astronautics in China. The promising results concluded 25.7% increased wear resistance in LP-Treated Ti6Al4V samples compared too untreated ones.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0030399217319230