The quality of additive manufacturing has advanced to the point that it meets the high standards in medical technology for more and more applications. “3D printing is seeing increasing use in high-risk areas, such as the individual reconstruction of blood vessels. For example, the technology provides a better and faster way of treating life-threatening situations, such as those that can arise in cardiovascular diseases. This aspect is one of many on the agenda at this year’s Rapid.Tech 3D Medicine Forum. In short, we will show how 3D printing technology supports diagnostics and therapy from head to toe, and is increasingly moving from outside the body to inside,” says Dr Özlem Weiss. Dr Weiss, the managing director of life sciences consultancy Expertants, is overseeing the content of the forum, which will take place on 10 May 2023.
Inspiration from the industrial 3D printing of medical technology devices will be provided by Dr Bart Engendahl, managing director of Chromatic 3D Materials GmbH. Among other things, his company specialises in material and process developments in the field of elastomers and offers 3D printing for components with very smooth surfaces. Dr Engendahl will cover topics such as the biocompatibility and stability of the materials, as well as addressing the issue of multi-material printing. Printing different materials in a single component is an interesting option especially in applications where a contact surface needs to be as soft and flexible as possible while simultaneously offering a high degree of stability.
Practising new neurosurgical methods with 3D-printed models
Update: In the Medicine Forum on May 10th, the lecture by Dr. Unfortunately, Hannes Schwenke from the Institute for Neuroradiology at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein on novel surgical methods for the treatment of complex cerebral vascular aneurysms using 3D-printed models is omitted. Mr. Kuntay Aktas, CEO of the Turkish company TrabTech, could be won for this. He will talk about the latest developments in design tools and automation techniques for additive manufacturing in the medical field.
The treatment of an injured or even ruptured aorta is also associated with high risks. In the case of an aortic rupture, there is a danger to life, and the patient must be operated on immediately. The affected vessel is replaced by an implant in most cases. Until now, these consisted of conventionally manufactured stents with rigid dimensions. Matthias Kern, project manager medical technologies at FIT Production GmbH Lupburg, will argue for a better solution in emergency cases and present aortic stents that are additively manufactured for the individual patient and can be implanted in a minimally invasive way. FIT is teaming up with Regensburg University of Applied Sciences and University Hospital Regensburg to work on this development.
Combining functionality and aesthetics in arm prosthetics
Christoph Braun, managing director of Schubert + Braun Prothesenwerk GmbH Dresden, will talk about how additive and digital technologies combine functionality and aesthetics in arm prosthetics. His company is thus closing a gap because prosthesis wearers previously had to choose between functionless cosmetic hand and arm prostheses or functional prostheses that left a lot to be desired in terms of their cosmetic appearance. Schubert + Braun have now developed passively movable prostheses that meet the highest cosmetic standards. This is made possible by integrated prosthetic hands or hand parts, wrists and elbow joints, which are integrated into the cosmetic arm prostheses. After creating custom digital models, the bespoke components are produced using 3D printing in the laser sintering process.
S3D Repro GmbH from St. Pölten, Austria, offers 3D-printed anatomical and pathological models with characteristics that are true to the original for the education and further training of medical staff as well as the development and simulation of new treatment methods. Thanks to such models, there is no need to work with body donors or animal cadavers. Oliver Simon, partner and head of the company’s German location, will provide an insight into current developments at S3D Repro.
The Medicine trade forum is part of the Rapid.Tech 3D specialist conference. Each day will open with high-profile keynotes from renowned experts in the automotive, aviation and defence industries. The three-day programme from 9 to 11 May 2023 will also offer insights into the latest AM applications and developments in the Mobility, Aviation, Design, Software & Processes, Innovations in AM, Chemistry & Process Engineering, Post-Processing & Quality Assurance, and Science trade forums.
More information on how to take part in the event is available at: www.rapidtech-3d.de/konferenz/tickets/
The conference and exhibitor areas of Rapid.Tech 3D 2023 will focus on India’s 3D printing expertise, among other things. A wide range of preparations are currently under way for Indo-German meetings and a joint Indian stand in Erfurt.
Information on special show areas such as the Additive Area or the Start-up Area is available at https://www.rapidtech-3d.com/exhibitors/registration-prices/.
Over 2,500 trade visitors from 18 countries flocked to Rapid.Tech 3D 2022 in Erfurt. They learned about new products and services in additive manufacturing from 97 exhibitors from eleven countries, including the US, the United Kingdom, Austria and Switzerland. Visitors were delighted with the conference programme, which featured ground-breaking keynote addresses and trade forums offering in-depth presentations. Delegate numbers were higher in comparison to the last in-person conference in 2019.
Further information: www.rapidtech-3d.com
