EOS will showcase its laser sintering equipment’s capability to produce custom medical devices during the world’s largest event for medical design and manufacturing: MD&M 2010 (June 7-10, New York, N.Y.). On display will be the FORMIGA P 100 plastics machine, as well as a number of plastic and metal medical prototypes and parts at booth 2655.
“Medical companies are already using our technology to create patient-specific medical products, uniquely tailored to an individual’s anatomy and needs,” says Martin Bullemer, Key Account Manager Medical at EOS. “As our quality and production controls continue to evolve, designers and manufacturers will be able to achieve even more extraordinary advances in patient care and comfort.”
In plastics, EOS laser-sintered nylon is used and researched for disposable, custom operating devices such as drill guides for knee and hip replacements. The same polyamide formulation has seen service in a lightweight, robust and durable orthesis, designed to precision measurements of a patient’s limb. EOS’ new PEEK HP3, a high-temperature, high-performance thermoplastic, will be biocompatible and sterilizable, making it suitable for spinal implants.
In metals, direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS) systems are currently used to create:
· Stainless-steel prototypes for custom spinal surgical instruments
· Cobalt chrome replacement knee joint prototypes, and end-product dental copings and bridges
· Titanium dental implants with porous surfaces that promote osteointegration
Recently added control options include (now available for DMLS) an Integrated Process Chain Management system for quality assurance for re-using metal powder, and for plastics laser-sintering a series of Part Property Profiles (PPP) that offer five different parameter settings for standard, cost-effective part production. Recently, EOS announced that it is undertaking a Quality Standard initiative open to all of its customers. The new standard defines requirements and procedures that customers can integrate into their own ISO: 9001 quality management systems. Find out more about the quality standard here.
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