In 2012, when the Orthopaedic Innovation Centre (OIC) responded to a call for help from a veterinarian in need a new patella for a 6 year old dog named Oreo, we were ahead of the curve in creating applications for 3D printing. Looking to the future where additively manufactured products will be approved as implantable medical devices for human use, it looked like a perfect opportunity to prove out the technology.
Stratasys, the manufacturer of the Fortus 400mc that was used to print the patella in PC-ISO bio-compatible material, has now published the application on their website at http://blog.stratasys.com/2014/10/31/3d-printed-patella-dog/.
A website focusing on the industry, 3dprint.com is also passing along the Oreo story at http://3dprint.com/22417/3d-printed-patella-for-dog/.
Design-Engnieering.com also published the story at http://www.design-engineering.com/additive-manufacturing/winnipeg-pooch-receives-3d-printed-kneecap-132558.
With the new materials that are becoming available, including OIC’s own patent pending drug eluting material, the future is bright for medical applications of 3D printing.
For more information on the Oreo story, contact us.
