Medical Models Fully Replicate the Feel, Responsiveness, and Biomechanics of Human Anatomy

Typically, when medical device companies or physicians want to study a specific condition or disease state, they experiment on either cadavers or animals. But finding a cadaver that fits the criteria of one of these pathologies, such as scoliosis or congenital heart disease, can be difficult. And if such cadavers can be found, the cost to procure, maintain, and dispose of them is significant. Animal studies have the same cost-effectiveness issues. And, while animal anatomy can be similar to human anatomy, it is not exactly the same. “But now [customers] can have organ models printed in 3D, on demand,” said Scott Drikakis, business segment leader, medical, at Stratasys, said in an interview with MD+DI. Based on the need for biomechanical accuracy and in response to feedback from its current customers, Stratasys partnered both with medical device companies and hospitals to develop its J750 Digital Anatomy printer. Not only can it print exact replicas of human organs, it also realistically recreates any type of pathologies in them. The J750 has 384 nozzles on every print head, and it ejects polymers out of each nozzle. On each side of the print head are UV lights, so that as the material is ejected, it is UV cured. From a 16-micron level, each layer is built upon, with the X axis and the Y axis going forward and back, and then the Z axis is what builds the materials for the model up. “We launched three new materials, which ar...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: 3-D Printing Source Type: news