New Method for Customised 3D printed Medical Devices

A new 3D printing technology enables the creation of medical devices such as catheters for premature newborns customised to each patient. These devices will be stronger and lighter than existing models.

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"If you can print a catheter whose geometry is specific to the individual patient, you can insert it up to a certain critical spot, you can avoid puncturing veins, and you can expedite delivery of the contents," said Randall Erb, assistant professor at Northeastern University in US.

“Using magnets, Erb and Martin's 3D printing method aligns each minuscule fibre in the direction that conforms precisely to the geometry of the item being printed. The researchers "magnetise" the ceramic fibres by dusting them very lightly with iron oxide, which, Martin notes, has already been approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for drug-delivery applications.”