Objet Geometries - Ultra-Thin-Layer, High-Resolution 3D Printing Systems for Medical Applications

Objet 3D printing is used extensively in the medical industry for the creation of surgical and diagnostic aids, the development of prosthetics and medical products, tissue engineering, and the design of medical tools and equipment.

Well-suited to this broad range of medical applications, Objet 3D printing systems are widely used by medical device companies, research institutions and, more recently, hospitals. They help improve and accelerate the design of laboratory and medical equipment as well as enabling highly accurate models of bone and tissue for surgical planning and research.

3D printing systems and desktop 3D printers

Market-proven Eden™ 3D printing systems and the Alaris™30 desktop 3D printer are based on Objet’s patented, office-friendly PolyJet technology, which jets Objet FullCure® photopolymers in ultra-thin layers to create realistic 3D models and parts.

The Connex™ line of multi-material printers is uniquely capable of jetting multiple materials simultaneously and creating models from composite materials in a single process. Called ‘Digital Materials’, these can have different physical and mechanical properties - for example, flexible, rigid, transluscent, opaque. All Objet systems create the accurate, smooth and highly detailed 3D models required for medical applications.

3D printers for medical modelling

Objet 3D printers are widely used in medical modelling due to their meticulous accuracy, rapid build time and ease of model sterilisation. Models are also highly resilient, enabling drilling and fixing with similar characteristics to human bone tissue. Furthermore, preservation of thin and delicate structures due to the lack of an after-production step make it possible to build complex models of human anatomical structures such as blood vessels.

In fact, 3D printing technology is deemed by many to be the most effective means of physically realising medical models. 3D imaging technology used in the medical field (for instance CT data) is today commonly used with CAD / CAM technology to assist surgeons with customised solutions. Because of the complexity of CT data, the automated production provided by 3D printing technology makes it an excellent choice for generating models based on actual patient data.

Rapid medical prototyping and 3D printing

Medical product development companies can quickly model small parts in-house in order to reduce tooling and re-working and thereby accelerate time-to-market for new devices. Orthopaedic innovations are more cost-effective due to rapid prototyping and decreasing time-to-revenue.

The ability to develop new prototypes and correct them overnight is a huge advantage when strengthening relationships with key customers; medical institutions can modify devices to meet business and patient needs in just 24hr.

3D printers for medical applications

Objet 3D printers have many advantages for medical environments. Their compact design allows flexibility of location. More importantly, all Objet systems use environmentally stable materials that are fully cured and ready-to-handle as soon as printing finishes, resulting in a safe, clean, office-friendly process without lengthy post-processing requirements.

Founded in 1998, Objet serves its growing worldwide customer base through offices in the US, Europe and Hong Kong, and a global network of distribution partners. In addition to medical applications, Objet innovative 3D printing solutions enable industrial designers and manufacturers to reduce the cost of product development cycles and shorten time-to-market of new products.