Lithoz has introduced a long-term partnership with New York-based biomaterials specialist Himed, as the businesses be part of forces to speed up innovation and analysis into the 3D printing of medical-grade bioceramics. The partnership contains Himed’s buy of a CeraFab S65 Medical 3D printer.
Lithoz says that after trying to find a strategic accomplice in america for higher entry to the potential of top-level surgical procedure specialists within the nation, this new partnership varieties the following logical step within the large-scale commercialisation of its 3D printing merchandise, but in addition varieties a pool of high researchers driving 3D printable bioceramics to the ‘subsequent stage’.
Lithoz says that the tricalcium phosphate or hydroxy apatite-based LithaBone ceramics have confirmed to be a ‘extremely engaging’ various to metals utilized in human surgical procedure because of the ‘wonderful’ properties of biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. Lithoz says it has additionally obtained innovation research requests involving the bioceramics, such because the precision and design flexibility of its LCM know-how, which it says possesses enormous potential for innovation on the subject of lattice buildings and reaching excellent ranges of osteoconductivity.
First part analysis will happen at Lithoz’s U.S. location in Troy, New York in summer season 2023 by a joint workforce of supplies scientists. A brand new Lithoz CeraFab S65 3D printer will probably be put in on the 25,000 sq. ft. facility in Lengthy Island later within the yr. Lithoz says the set up of the system will enable the corporate to extra quickly experiment on web site and run essential analytical testing at its in-house laboratory.
Learn extra: Lithoz and SiNAPTIC to signal strategic cope with buy of CeraFab 3D printers at RAPID + TCT 2023
Dana Barnard, Himed CEO mentioned: “Himed understands CaP optimisation and the right way to scale it for a rising market. We’ve refined many calcium phosphates to strengthen their therapeutic potential, however most of those have been focused towards floor coatings on historically manufactured titanium implants. Lithoz’s outstanding 3D printing know-how permits an entire new route for our merchandise, during which we are able to use CaP to its biggest benefit – as a biometric materials inside the implant construction itself that may be changed by an individual’s personal pure bone over time.”
Lithoz CEO Dr. Johannes Homa added: “That is undoubtedly a giant milestone for our partnership, and only a first start line for a mutual helpful collaboration for additive manufacturing of bone alternative.”
Lithoz says that each corporations consider there’s nonetheless ‘a lot to find’ about creating CaP supplies to reinforce the efficiency of 3D printed implantable varieties. In accordance with Lithoz, the partnership represents a primary step in rising the vary of biocompatible supplies appropriate for a future that features extremely customised, patient-specific medical options that may be printed on-demand.
Calcium phosphates reminiscent of hydroxy apatite are utilized in implantable units, bone putties, and grafting supplies for his or her similarity to pure bone, and might help the natural regrowth of onerous tissue on the implantation web site.
Himed was collaborated with completely different medical implant producers to develop and optimise CaP powders and floor therapies for osseointegration. The corporate says that its partnership with Lithoz permits new alternatives for Himed within the medical 3D printing market past bioactive floor therapies and put up processing of implants.
