Speaker
Description
Patient specific implant care is gaining momentum due to the recent developments in additive manufacturing. The combination of biocompatible materials and contamination free additive manufacturing technologies allow not only to save material when medical products are created but also to have no additional cost when it comes to patient specific applications. For this reason private companies and governmental support programs accelerate the investigation and integration of such technologies to reduce the overall cost for patient specific medical products. So far the material extrusion process (MEX) in combination with polyetheretherketon (PEEK) has proven itself an ideal candidate. Efforts taken by Apium Additive Technologies GmbH and Evonik Industries AG could show, that parts created by MEX with a filament produced under clean room conditions did not show any contaminations and thus opened the path for further applications into the medical field, for example in the context of the CaMED Project.
However, this is just the beginning and further applications can be realized by looking into different PEEK compounds. Carbon fibre reinforced (CFR) PEEK shows higher strength and can be used for medical products of lower classification, while PEEK compounded with biphasic calcium posphates (BCP) show an improved bone ingrowth behaviour.
In this report we will highlight the biocompatibility tests of PEEK and its compounds, as well as mechanical data of the printed species. The results will give an idea for which applications the materials can be used and allow for new designs in medical products.
| Speaker Country | Germany |
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