Normann Fichtner, market development director, AM at Nano Dimension, looks at the rapidly growing use of AM within the world of medical devices.
Nano Dimension
As we navigate a world increasingly focused on personalised medicine, digital health and smart healthcare solutions, advanced technologies such as 3D printing are no longer a novelty, but a core pillar of daily operations for medical professionals across the globe.
While applications are still evolving at rapid pace, the introduction of AM is already redefining and reimagining many areas across the medical device landscape. These span from unlocking the creation of intricate, customised electronic components that can be seamlessly integrated into medical devices, to the micro 3D printing of tiny, precision parts that are proving transformative in everything from surgical tools to diagnostic devices. This technology is not just a glimpse into the future – it's happening now, and its impact is profound.
Powering up the future
Enabling unparalleled levels of customisation, integration and innovation, the scope of Additively Manufactured Electronics (AME) is vast, with research rapidly developing, ushering in the next evolution of wearable electronic devices at an unprecedented pace.
Using custom flexible materials, companies like Nano Dimension are working at the cutting edge of innovation to generate novel research of circuits that conform to organic or custom shapes. In real terms, this means opening up new avenues for research into game-changing patient solutions such as smart patches and tattoos for on-skin testing. These devices could be used to monitor biological changes that would help with the monitoring and management of diseases like diabetes in the very near future – making wearables an exciting segment warranting close attention in the years to come.
Miniature parts, massive impact
Another aspect central to the ongoing transformation of the medical device industry is the recent advancement of micro-additive manufacturing, or micro-AM: the use of 3D printing to produce minute, micron-level parts that can be used far beyond for a whole host of applications. As we see a rise in demand for small components due to more minimally invasive surgeries, technological innovation in this segment is evolving alongside to meet these needs. The change of pace in the uptake of micro-AM is also fueled by an increased focus on personalised devices and models, and the ongoing miniaturisation of medical devices, as well as the ongoing growth of microfluidics in research.
Unlike traditional methods such as micro injection moulding or CNC machining, which are costly and limited by tooling requirements, micro-AM allows for intricate geometries without assembly hassles – streamlining the production process by reducing both time and effort. The potential of this technology is exemplified in the production of parts such as micro needles, microfluidic chips and personal medical device miniaturisation, where size, accuracy and production times are critical to their successful end use.
In areas such as medical research, we are already seeing advanced, futuristic applications that just a few years ago might have seemed inconceivable. For example, innovative medical device startup, Antishock, has developed a disposable, non-invasive, continuous monitoring system that measures patients’ systemic fluid responsiveness, preventing IV fluid overload. This is a common condition among ICU patients that not only has negative financial and clinical implications, but more importantly can cause organ failure, and in severe cases, death. Antishock’s electro-optical sensing medical device, based on a tiny sensor, is built out of several small mechanical moving components. 3D printing proved critical not only to creating these actual parts, but to the product development and prototyping process, not to mention affording the company substantial efficiencies in time and cost.
Ultimately, these use cases merely scratch the surface in demonstrating the vast potentials of AM in the medical device sphere. It is already making technological innovation more affordable and accessible – with yet more breakthrough advancements and novel real-world applications undoubtedly laying ahead.