WIMAS 2015: International Workshop on Additive Manufacturing for Healthcare

WIMAS (International Workshop on Additive Manufacturing for Healthcare) took place in Campina Grande, Brazil from November 18-20^th. The event gathered together representatives from several different sectors interested in applying additive manufacturing (commonly known as 3D printing) in healthcare. Among the guests, there were people from the academy like researchers from IME  (Military Institute of Engineering) from Rio de Janeiro, NUTES (Center of Strategic Technologies for Health) and the team from the Sao Paulo-based Renato Archer Institute. There were also representatives from regulatory bodies like ANVISA (Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency) and the FDA; public institutions like the Ministry of Health and the SENAI Innovation Institute. Besides people from the private sector and companies like URI Medical and Biokyra.

      During the event, it was discussed relevant strategic issues for the application of the technology in healthcare as the development of protocols throughout the model building process, from segmentation of the medical image, i.e. regulate programs that make this process, until the manufacturing process used for materialization of the implant or biomodel, besides the form of sterilization and the risk ratings for each 3D printed product.

In addition to the round discussions, Biokyra had the opportunity to present the surgical cases that have recently been done and the products that are being developed within the company.

Regulations, 3D Printing and IT in Medtech Sector: trends for 2014

      Since the year is just beginning, it is time to make some predictions of hot trends for 2014. One of the most important fact that the medical device sector should pay attention to is the regulatory system in Europe. Some changes proposed by the current EU-Council could impact the industry severely. The next step is to find a compromise that works for all the member states and that should probably happen before European elections in May.

   3D Printing will continue to impress in 2014. Some patents of the technology will expire in February, leading to more competition and lower prices. For the next five years, it is expected to drop 60% of 3D metal printing costs.

     Finally, one cannot forget the influence of information technology in the medical device sector. After the announcement of Calico by Google and researches that are currently taking place by IBM in cooperation with National Cancer Institute of Milan or the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, digital healthcare is a key trend for this year. With sensors becoming cheaper and more powerful, one will be able to obtain more precise health related data.

References: http://www.emdt.co.uk/daily-buzz/regulation-3-d-printing-digitalisation-%E2%80%93-what-will-be-important-2014-0

“3D: Printing the Future”

           3D Printing, or more professionally called Additive Manufacturing, is a process of making three dimensional solid object from a digital model. It can print in plastic, metal, nylon and so many other materials. It can make manufacturing prototype, end user products and even human organs by using a person’s own cells. This is possible because of its technology: it creates a three dimensional object by building it layer by layer successively.

        Besides the industry sector and academic researches, 3D Printing is being used by physicians and surgeons. The most recent event, that was all over the international media, is a case that took place in the United Kingdom. Surgeons are using 3D Printing to rebuild a patient’s face which was crushed in a motorbike accident. However, the surgery hasn’t been booked yet. The theme became an exhibition at the Science Museum in London and it is called “3D: Printing the Future”.

References: http://www.3dprinter.net/reference/what-is-3d-printing

        http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-24926598