Fun Innovations Friday: Skull Sculpting With World's First 3D Cranial Implants

It seems that a lot of our innovations on Fridays have been about advances in the medical sector, and I have another one for you today. 

3D Systems, the 3D-printing company, has received 510(k) FDA (the Food and Drug Administration) clearance for its EXT 220 MED printer which uses medical-grade PEEK materials to deliver 3D-printed craniums for cranial reconstruction.

The VSP PEEK Cranial Implant is the first FDA-cleared, additively manufactured PEEK implant intended for cranioplasty procedures to restore defects in the skull. The implant includes a complete FDA-cleared workflow that uses segmentation and 3D modeling software, the 3D Systems EXT 220 MED 3D printer, and Evonik VESTAKEEP i4 3DF PEEK (polyetheretherketone).

The printer provides a self-contained cleanroom environment and a simple post-processing workflow to produce patient-specific medical devices at hospitals with faster turnaround while using up to 85% less material than implants produced by traditional machining, lowering costs. This solution has already been used in nearly 40 cranioplasties across Europe in the past few months including at University Hospital Basel in Switzerland, Salzburg University Hospital in Austria, and Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel.

The market for cranial reconstruction is anticipated to exceed $2 billion by 2030, making the FDA clearance an important milestone for widespread adoption. The use of 3D printing also allows these applications to be expanded and are more cost-effective when used alongside traditional orthopedic surgeries.

“The solution is revolutionizing the field. The combination of 3D Systems' printing technology that is uniquely engineered for sterile environments along with the mechanical properties of PEEK are helping surgeons push boundaries. Within our hospital, we have already completed several successful surgeries using these technologies. I believe the potential for customized PEEK cranial plates is significant to integrate 3D printing into routine clinical practice," said Dr. Johannes Pöppe, senior attending surgeon, department of neurosurgery, University Hospital Salzburg.

This implant-grade, high-performance polymer has a well-known clinical history in medical device applications due to its performance with mechanical properties that closely mirror human bone. PEEK also has great biocompatibility, is resistant to bodily fluids, and provides stability in a wide range of temperatures. It's also inherently radiolucent, which means that it's transparent for X-rays and has minimal interference in medical imaging, providing a clear evaluation of the surgical site and implant integrity.

3D Systems has been working with surgeons for over 10 years to plan 150,000+ cases and manufacture more than 2 million implants and instruments for 100+ CE-marked and FDA-cleared devices from its FDA-registered, ISO 13485-certified facilities in Littleton, Colorado, and Leuven, Belgium.

With FDA clearance, 3D Systems will be able to expand its PEEK product portfolio through the EXT 220 MED platform and set the stage for a comprehensive range of advanced PEEK-based solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of the medical field. 

Fun Innovations Friday

Created by the editors of New Equipment Digest and Plant Services, Fun Innovations Friday is a feel-good blog that showcases how advances in science, math, engineering, and technology are making our world more whimsical. Here’s another post that is guaranteed to brighten your day.

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