Materialise (Leuven, Belgium) and Formlabs (Somerville, Mass.) have forged a partnership to help deliver cost-effective solutions to hospitals that want to start in-house 3D printing labs.
The partnership combines Materialise’s Mimics inPrint medical imaging software with Formlabs’s Form 2 printers to create a complete 3D printing package that will help implement patient-specific care that is an affordable price-per-print.
Using 3D printed anatomical models helps surgeons plan procedures while also explaining it to patients using an exact model of the body part they are performing surgery on. However, the high set up costs and costs per part have created a barrier for hospitals looking to create their own 3D printing labs in-house.
“We are committed to removing barriers for 3D printing technology in the medical industry and this partnership with Formlabs is an important first step in our efforts to expand access to 3D printing in hospitals,” Brigitte de Vet, VP of medical at Materialise, said. “Our software is essential to creating virtual and printed 3D models in the medical industry, and with each new partnership, we are bringing greater patient-specific care to more hospitals for a better, healthier world.”
3D models help improve surgical outcomes. Before 3D printed surgical models, doctors had to view actual organs using their hands to see what they needed to do surgically. The practice of using 3D models has even recently helped separate conjoined twins.
“Clinicians have seen the value of 3D anatomical models from our Form 2 printer and they are looking for new ways to bring this innovative technology to their patients,” Dávid Lakatos, chief product officer at Formlabs, said. “By combining Materialise’s software with Formlabs’s 3D printers, we have developed a simple, easy-to-use solution for hospitals to incorporate 3D printing into their daily practices. Together we’re introducing technology that enables advancements in precise patient care.”
