Additive Manufacturing for Medical Devices 3D Printing of Stereotactic Platforms for Neurosurgery
FHC | Success Story
Stereotactic Platforms for Neurosurgery
Benefits with 3D Printing
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Customized design fosters patient well-being
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Highest-quality production to strict standards required for medical applications
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Less material due to faster manufacturing turnaround times
"We anticipate even greater product improvement opportunities from the switch to laser sintering as we go forward. Having the flexibility of a technology that can create patient-specific solutions rather than one-size-fits-all can result in both hospital economies and better patient outcomes."
Fred Haer | FHC CEO and STarFix President
Additive Manufacturing of Customized Surgical Tools Achieved High Precision
FHC—a worldwide leader in innovative neuroscience products for more than 40 years—collaborated with a leading neurosurgeon to transform traditional stereotaxy using a 3D-modelling process based on each patient’s anatomical coordinates.
The first application of this new STarFix technology is the award-winning, patient-matched, frameless microTargeting™ Platform, which offers greater patient comfort, increased accuracy and time savings in the operating room (OR).
Using the SLS 3D Printer FORMIGA P 100 to laser sinter the Platform, FHC achieves precision results at reduced costs within record delivery times. Following the parameters of an intelligent, independent solid model provided by the planning software, the fixture is “grown” inside the FORMIGA P 100 in only a matter of hours using PA 2201 polyamide powder. Parts consolidation enabled by laser sintering has allowed FHC to fine-tune the STarFix design, reducing assembly time in the OR.
"The trend in medical devices is to create customized products. EOS technology provides us with patient-specific product manufacturing while enabling us to control costs as we speed delivery to our surgical customers."
Ron Franklin | Chief Technology Officer | STarFix
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Cost-effective and reliable nasal swabs for PCR test kids. Aenium and Burloak developed a model for producing up to 40 000 swabs per day on multiple EOS additive manufacturing systems.
Developing Biocompatible Material for Additively Manufactured Medical Implants
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The University of Michigan uses a FORMIGA P 100 to produce individualized and lifesaving implants for children. Together with EOS they develop new biocompatible materials.
Optimized Medical Products with 3D printing
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Development and manufacture of precision-fit implant for the cranial area with particular permeability for liquids and hear dissipation.
