3D printing equipment maker Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) and UK 3D printing materials company 4D Biomaterials announce they have achieved the ability to print micro-scale geometries using materials Bioabsorbable 4Degra. It would appear that the first time a bioabsorbable material was printed using this process, the technology has the potential to revolutionize the way implantable medical devices are made. Miniature rigid braces and micro-scale soft tissue applications are cited by companies as early opportunities.
The partnership combines BMF’s micro-stereolithography (PµSL) approach with 4Degra resin-based inks from 4D Biomaterials. The inks are based on the chemistry of polycarbonate urethane and can be printed via P??SL and digital light processing to create finely detailed implantable medical devices that support the body’s natural healing processes before breaking down into harmless byproducts that are absorbed and eliminated by normal metabolic processes. The chemistry can be adjusted so that the 3D printed product exhibits a range of mechanical properties.
Remove obstacles to the miniaturization of medical devices
BMF microArch system harnesses lightweight, customizable optics, a high-quality motion platform, and controlled processing technology to produce what it claims to be the most accurate and precise high-resolution 3D prints in the industry for the development of short-term products, research and industrial production. The company’s PµSL technology has attracted a growing group of customers working on the development of new micro-scale medical devices. “Our customers continue to seek solutions to miniaturize, and now with bioabsorbable material options, a whole new range of devices is possible,” BMF CEO John Kawola said in a prepared statement. “Miniaturization in the development of medical devices has been hampered by the limitations of traditional manufacturing methods and the materials available. The BMF and 4D Biomaterials partnership strives to remove these barriers.
Bioabsorbable Polymers Market To Reach $ 1.6 Billion By 2026
The partnership allows medical device companies to think about 3D printing of micro-absorbable implants for the first time, added Philip Smith, CEO of 4D Biomaterials, a 15-year University of Birmingham and Warwick spinoff company. university research. The bioresorbable polymers market is estimated at $ 1 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $ 1.6 billion by 2026, according to an activity report from Markets and Markets. “We are already seeing demand for this market growth as the range of applications continues to expand with advancements in hardware, software and materials technology,” said Smith.
The video embedded here describes the properties and applications of biocompatible and bioresorbable 3D printing resins.
