Medical 3D Printing & BioprintingDr Varun Tyagi is a medical doctor who practices in India and writes about remarkable and historical landmarks throughout the medical world. Dr Varun believes that 3D printing can help democratize medical care, making medical devices affordable and available to everyone on the planet.
8-Year old Michael Bell was suffering with Moebius Syndrome, a neurological disorder that left him without his left arm. However, he received a 3D Printed Hand from CMU’s MakerBot Innovation Center, Breckenridge where Austin Brittain created the device for him using the e-NABLE template. The device was named Phoneix hand and costs less than $100.
With recently getting the clearance from US FDA for O2VentTM Mono device, Oventus Medical has now successfully registered its listing on the ASX on 19 July 2016 with a fully subscribed IPO. The company’s O2VentTM range incorporates an airway to bypass nasal, soft palate and tongue obstructions. The company has also registered its next generation O2VentTM T titratable device with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and launched the device for consumers through an expanded network of dentists.
A report by Future Market Insights has stated that 3D Printing is expected to grow huge by year 2016 especially in medical and dental fields with 4.6 million 3D Printers to be sold by 2026. While 3D Printing has opened doors for every sector, these two sectors will benefit greatly. Some companies like Stratasys, 3D Systems and ExOne are having reduced sales for now but the boom of this sector will heighten their fortunes too.
Law enforcement officers approached the 3D Print Lab of Anil Jain, a professor at Michigan State University seeking help in solving a murder case using the 3D Print Technology. Police believed that scans of the victim’s fingerprints from a previous arrest could help unlock his phone and might provide clues as to who killed him.
The first 3D Printing Factory had already started construction in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The project started after the Fengdu county government of the municipality and the Hkable Biological 3D (China) Co Ltd, a joint venture between U.-based Hkable and local biotechnology company Jintai, signed a cooperation agreement on Tuesday. The factory is estimated to cost 50 million yuan ($7.5 million) and will produce human part molds to help with surgery for orthopedics, burns and dentistry, and artificial parts such as limbs.
KLS Martin Group, a German medical-supply company will be opening its first U.S manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, according to Rick Scott’s Office. While the focus of the new operations will be on precision 3D printing and milling of products for reconstructive surgery, Tom Johnston of KLS Martin Manufacturing stated that the Jacksonville plant will not only be the first in North America, but the company’s first outside of Germany.
Dr. Ken Stewart and team of doctors at Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, Scotland are now using 3D Printing technology to help children born with Microtia, a congenital condition in which the external ear is underdeveloped or undeveloped at birth. Using Artec Spider 3D Scanner, they are able to record the geometry of child's normal ear and use it to create a highly accurate model.
The relationship between Medicine and 3D printing market is expected to rise, and cross the $3.89 billion mark by 2022. To these, achievements like the launch of 3D printed organs, which will cause a rapid decrease in the testing of new drugs, and medicine on animals, are constantly adding to the potential of 3D Printing. 3D printers can create specifically designed medicine with accurate dosage size, color and delivery modes which are patient orientated and improve patient care.
Researchers and Students at the University of California, Riverside have created a Lego-like system of blocks that will enable users to make chemical and biological research instruments quickly, easily and affordably. The blocks, which are called Multifluidic Evolutionary Components (MECs) because of their flexibility and adaptability are designed to work together, and users can build apparatus--like bioreactors for making alternative fuels or acid-base titration tools.
Materialise announced the opening of a new 3D Printing Centre of Excellence in Malaysia which will aim to become a competence center for DLP 3D printing technologies. The teams at the facility will also investigate 3D printing anatomical models and other medical devices with DLP technology to further enhance the functionality of Materialise’s 3D printing software suites for the benefit of end-users working with DLP 3D printers.
Team UnLimibited has launched its Alfie Edition Arm 2.0 which is a modification of its previous version, the Isabella Edition which had issues with growing anatomy of children and hence its proportionality with user. They have currently hosted the files on Thingyverse through Customizer and are expecting the global users to provide them feedback on the new launch.
Dr. Jose Gurrola, an assistant professor of rhinology at UVA has initiated a program that will involve students practicing nasal endoscopy on 3D Printed Skulls. They can introduce a camera in front of the nose and perform nasal endoscopy virtually, so as to learn hand-eye coordination, learned movement and ways of minimizing any collateral damage to patients of chronic recurring sinusitis, chronic upper respiratory infections, severe nasal obstructions, nose bleeds, etc.
Mir Bayyaan Baloch, a kid from Pakistan was born with a partially developed arm when engineers at Bioniks, Bayyaan decided to present him 3D printed prosthetic arm. The 3D Printed Prosthetic Arm took 2-3 days to print which was added with his favourite "Super Hero" touch and Bayyaan could now move his fingers with the help of his elbow movement and hold things
Making its debut at this year's TCT show in Birmingham will be Stratasys’ recently-launched J750 3D printer, reportedly the world’s only full colour, multi-material 3D printer. The J750 is designed for prototypes, as well as tooling, moulds, jigs and fixtures and its unique 3D printing capabilities enable users for the first time to combine full colour gradients with a range of materials to achieve the most realistic parts in the industry, easily and without post-processing.
17-year old Aaron Westbrook from Ohio is seeking e-NABLE to create 3D Printed Prosthetics which will have much less impact on the environment. With his official non-profit organization, Form5, he is developing ways to make low-cost 3D printed devices from reused and recycled plastic, especially ABS and PLA. He has also started a Kickstarter campaign to grab some funds to buy the tools required for this innovative idea.
Ten-year-old Torrae Owen and her father Ivan Owen, were recently invited to talk about their gift that keeps on giving at TEDxFoggyBottom in Washington, D.C. They were the one who developed a 3D printed prosthetic hand for a child named Liam through e-NABLE. Ivan currently participates with e-NABLE as a volunteer designer and Torrae has learned how to make hands and how to teach others to do so.
Researchers from Advancing Innovations Biosciences have developed a Bio-sample collection solution using an open source Printrbot Play 3D printer for $750. Team at AI Biosciences took a low-cost Printrbot Play, modified it by replacing the extruder with a magnet based tip-comb attachment and further used that to conduct particle-based nucleic acid extractions. Then they programmed the 3D printer to move about its available axis to collect up to 12 samples simultaneously in under 13 minutes.
Team of researchers at German Chemical Company, Evonik have developed 3d printed biocompatible implants as a substitute for metal implants with advantage of easy absorbability by human body. This 3D Printed biocompatible material will slowly dissolve inside bone as it heals, thereby eliminating need for surgical procedure.
The FDA issued draft guidance on 3D-printed devices in May and has already cleared 85 medical devices and one prescription drug manufactured via 3D printing. The guidance has been open for comments until August while the officials note the rules stop short of addressing products that involve biological material.
Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging calibrating with 3D printed phantoms have appeared to be the best for patient-specific absorbed dose calculations for molecular radiotherapy requiring accurate activity quantification. These 3D printed phantom inserts can significantly improve the accuracy of whole organ activity quantification for molecular radiotherapy and are cost effective and efficient way.
Spineart has announced that it received CE marking for its new JULIET lumbar inter-body systems with Ti-LIFE Technology that isultra-compact, sterile packed and bar-coded for increased safety, procedure compliance and cost-efficiency. The Ti-Life micro-porous scaffold mimics the bone trabecular structure and features interconnected pores of 600 μm to 700 μm and an overall porosity of 70-75% designed to enable cell colonization and promote bone in-growth.
Gary Chang & Michael Lu, the FAM technology developers from Stanford have developed an IV Injection Trainer based on cutting edge 3D printing FAM technology. It was presented at recently held CES Asia conference in Shanghai and now has been extended for clinical use to medical students offering a human-like touch with its silicone pad and more durablibility. It can be easily customized as per preferred hardness, skin color, vein diameter & depth.
Alfie from Ballynahinch in Co. Down was born without his right hand when Megan Tissington from Dublin designed the robotic arm for him as part of her final year project at The National College of Art and Design. The project is called “aumentarM” which is a 3D printed arm and hand system for children aged between four and 12 years.
The first ever Industrial 3D Printer for Silicones by Germany’s Wacker Chemie will be showcased at “K 2016” trade fair on 19th October at Düsseldorf / Germany. The “ACEO” Imagine Series K printer uses a drop-on-demand method where tiny silicone droplets are deposited on a substrate by layering process to produce a homogeneous product that does not differ much from injection-moulded parts.
SME, working with Stratasys, sponsored a student additive manufacturing competition at the 52nd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, June 21-23 with aim to help contestants better understand additive manufacturing applications. Out of 22 teams, 6 teams won Prizes including scholarships from the SME Education Foundation, a MakerBot Mini printer, 3D mouse, and SolidWorks 3D CAD design software.
Aether 1 bioprinter is one of the 3D Bio-Printers that is capable of printing two bones connected by a tendon using six materials that include synthetic bone, conductive ink, stem cells and graphene oxide. When usual bio-printers may cost upto 200,000$, the Aether 1 Bio-printer costs only 9000$ and they will be rolled out soon after some donations to researchers and universities.
With launch of Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution, the first 3D Printer by HP which is “ten times faster, half the cost”, the company had been looking for new powders for the Jet Fusion printer, for which they announced an Open Platform model calling developers for the Powder Materials. Evonik, a German specialty chemicals maker, has replied to the call and going in partnership with HP to produce new powder 3D printing materials for the HP Jet Fusion 3D printer. Other material developing company including Arkema from France and BASF from Germany had also joined the venture.
With funds received from Vinnova, Innventia has started it's project AMPOFORM (Additive Manufacturing of Prosthetic products based on Forest Raw Materials) which will utilize nano-cellulose and carbon fiber sourced from lignin to produce Prosthetics. Since these 3D Printed Prosthetics will be produced from plant-based material, the team believes it will reduce burden on fossil-based materials and simultaneously create environment-friendly methods.
Additive Orthopaedics, company specializing in additively manufactured surgical solutions, recently announced that it has successfully treated a series of patients suffering from painful hammertoes with its 3D printed hammertoe implant, which was recently cleared by FDA. While Greg Kowalczyk, President and Founder of Additive Orthopaedics, believes it was only possible with 3D Printing, he stated company is expected to get good response.
American Process Inc. (API), an Atlanta-based company dedicated to the development of renewable biomass materials, has entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Swansea University Medical School in Wales to develop 3D printed cartilage to be used for facial reconstruction. Under this JDA, cells will be blended with various formulations of nano-cellulose scaffold material and 3D-printed into tissues for reconstructive surgery.
CIFP Don Bosco, a vocational training center located in the Basque Country of Spain, began working with 3D printers and soon its students and staff signed up with e-NABLE as volunteers. They immediately met two recipients from Mexico – 54 year old Rodolfo and 57 year old Gustavo for which Don Bosco students created the Flexy Hand 2 model. Since then, CIFP Don Bosco is working with e-NABLE to help people requiring prosthetics for a better life.
A team of researchers at Rowan University, New Jersey, is developing smart Replacement-Joints for patients that will fight off infection with pre-loaded drug delivery system in them. Printable in 3-16 hrs, these replacement pieces are bio-compatible and will be loaded with anti-biotics that will be released automatically if infection is suspected.
University of Malaya’s Centre for Biomedical and Technology Integration (CBMTI) uses Stratasys’ PolyJet 3D Printing technology to deliver custom medical implants, prototypes for new devices, patient-specific models for surgical planning and the sophisticated training simulators for clinical procedures. Identifying the anatomy and pathology, CBMTI engineers convert the patient’s CT and MRI scans into digital design files, and 3D printing the ultimate models.
Professor Rashid Abu Al-Rub and his team at Masdar Institute, United Arab Emirates is developing methods to change the internal geometric structure of familiar plastics, metals, ceramics and composites. Using the 3D Printing Technology as the only solution, they seek to revolutionize the existing 3D printing patterns and provide light-weight but strong materials for applications.
Felipe, an 8-year old from Colombia was born without his right hand when he decided to seek e-NABLE community for the help and wishing for a Captain America 3D Printed Arm. Christian Silva and his team through the e-NABLE Colombia 3D Printed his Captain America Arm using Reprap Prusa I3 3D printer which took more than a year.
Facial Prototyping has been performed with 3D Systems Model 660 Pro by Dr. Avsar in New York and Rhinoplasty Implants by Dr. Pablo Prichard out of Phoenix which are made of FDA approved material. FACS (Facial Active Coding System) has helped creating the grids for Craniofacial planning to be used for Rhinoplasty Implants.
Thierry Oquidam from France, IT Director in communication started volunteering to help as the e-NABLE Matcher for all of Europe and later delivered the first 3D printed e-NABLE hand in France to a young fellow named Maxence. He has made 7 devices and the whole e-NABLE France chapter has delivered 9 devices so far with currently 15 in process for the recipients requiring 3D Printed Hand or Arm. He is currently seeking donations in form of 3D Printers or materials to create more devices and help more people in need.
Engineers from University of Pennsylvania have developed a test kit for diagnosing Zika Virus which could cost as less as $2 and doesn't need electricity or technical information of usage. Made of thermos bottle and integrated heating element, the color changing will provide rapid diagnosis for zika virus and reduce mortality rate.
Some of the medical breakthroughs achieved by 3D Printing Technology include Bone models, Kidney models, fetal models using ultrasound of mother womb, First FDA-approved 3D Printable Pill- Spirtam, Dental SG for dental education, Sutrue-an automated suturing device, open-source designs to download, Brain Tumor models, Live Thyroid injected in mice, Alginate Ear Implants and finally a tiny 3D Printed Medical Camera.
Icelandic musician Björk has partnered with designer and researcher Neri Oxman on a mask made up of multiple 3D-printed strands that mimic the underlying structure of her own face. The piece was printed by additive manufacturing company Stratasys using a flexible, acrylic-based polymer.