Three medical companies innovating with 3D printing.

Don’t Worry, Be Healthy

Human health is the foundation of life.  If we aren’t healthy, we can’t function.  If we can’t function, it makes it more difficult to enjoy life.  Being in the midst of a technological revolution, our approach to how we solve medical problems is constantly evolving.  Manufacturers continue to pump out new gear and gadgets that we can use to better our health condition and well-being.  Using these new devices, doctors are able to improve the way they are able to diagnose problems and find solutions for them.   In such an innovative and competitive marketplace, manufacturers are looking for more cost-efficient ways to separate themselves from the bunch while still creating quality products.  With this in mind, manufacturers are turning toward different methods to achieve this goal.  Three companies, in particular, have found a way to overcome this obstacle and create an avenue they didn’t even know existed before they came across 3D printing.

Clear Eyes, 3D Parts, Can’t Lose

The Gonioscope, from Nidek, is made primarily from 3D printed parts.

Nidek Technologies is using 3D printing to identify issues with the eye as well as improve the durability of their tools.  Their Gonioscope, a device designed to observe the space between the iris and cornea, has started using 3D printed parts in their prototyping phase.  Since the switch from using metal parts to 3D printed parts, they are able to accelerate their development time and use less parts to construct the device as well as improve the product design.  3D printing has created an innovative avenue for their microscopes that they didn’t even know existed before.  By getting their devices to market faster and creating better products, Nidek is able to expedite and optimise the process of helping optometrists care for patients.  See a case study about it here.

Breath of Fresh Air

Syqe Medical took on the project of creating a medical cannabis inhaler for better dosing and control.  With 3D printing, they were able to create a prototype composed of primarily 3D printed parts in as little as two weeks.  After finding success with the prototyping phase, they turned to 3D printing again to create a working product for clinical trials.  Except for the metal and technology, they made the device completely 3D printed.  Read more about it here.

"I would recommend using 3D printing from the very beginning for any med-tech company, from concept to prototyping to clinical trials." - Itay Kurgan, head of design

Quickness Meets Quality

Being a global leader in medical technology, Medtronic had realised they were spending too much time in their development stage and the prototypes they were making used an inconsistent combination of materials.  With this in mind, they had determined they needed a solution that would not only save them time but that would result in clear resolution, a versatile system, and ease of use.  That’s when they discovered 3D printing.  Medtronic started using additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping, concepts & testing, technological development, and anatomical modelling development & test fixtures.  The addition to applying 3D printing to these phases of production has concluded in a faster time to market, reduced project costs, increased jobs, and improved design.  This revelation has continued, and will continue, to push Medtronic to stay ahead of the competition and bolster innovation for the years to come.  Check out their webinar on how they use 3D printing here.