3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / Medical Breakthrough With 3D Printed Biodegradable Stents



Medical Breakthrough With 3D Printed Biodegradable Stents

October 22, 2016

Scientists at Northwestern University, Illinois just can’t stop making medical breakthroughs with 3d printing methods. Last month we told you about their promising hyperelastic bone made from a bioengineered composite material. Now their research has come up trumps once more with another exciting medical development: 3D printed biodegradable heart stents.

Bioink Bagasse
Related Story
New Research Shows Sugarcane Waste Can Potentially Be Used for 3D Printing of Biomedical Devices

Guesswork

Traditional heart stents treat weakened or abnormally narrow arteries.  But they often pose issues to patients. Despite the highly complex nature of stent implantation, and the obvious skills that heart surgeons possess, there is always a small degree of guesswork involved in deciding whether a stent is the correct size for a given patient. This means that stents that move pose the chance of failure, potentially exposing the patient to more risk. Furthermore, 1-2 percent of people with stents develop a blood clot within the first few months after implantation. So how do the biodegradable stents overcome these issues?

The 3D printed biodegradable stents help to overcome both issues by offering both customization and anti-coagulation. A citrus-based polymer material with natural anti-oxidant properties is used to make the stents. The researchers in question used projection micro-stereo-lithography to print them with a unique process they call microCLIP. This 3D printing technique produces the stents using light and a photocurable liquid resin. The method allows for microscopic customization of the stent to suit each patient’s unique blood vessel shape. This minimizes the potential for geometric and biological complications to arise. Furthermore, the material appears to inhibit clot formation. Researchers predict that the possibility to load the stent with anti-coagulant drugs is real, which offers even more protection and boosts healing times.

MicroCLIP

The unique method known as microCLIP stands for micro continuous liquid interface production. The 3D printed method offers the capability to print up to one hundred units at a time in just four minutes, which is pretty impressive. This is significantly less than the time it takes to manufacture heart stents with traditional methods. A new video, released by Northwestern University within the last few days, shows exactly how it works. This video shows the ground-breaking method in action.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Ronan M.
Ronan loves the small pleasures in life such as the first cup of morning coffee and the cold side of the pillow. His other passions include soccer, Thai food, and music.
Latest posts

Evonik and Lehvoss Unveil New Super Polyamide for SLS 3D Printing

Evonik and Lehvoss have collaborated to develop a fiber-reinforced polyamide, PA613, designed for powder bed processes in industrial 3D printing. This material, aimed... read more »

Materials
Evonik and Lehvoss Unveil New Super Polyamide for SLS 3D Printing

Creality Unveils CR-10 SE – Better, Faster, and Smarter

[disclosure] The CR series from Creality has gained a new member to its product line: the Creality CR-10 SE. This addition is not... read more »

News
Creality Unveils CR-10 SE - Better, Faster, and Smarter

Revitalizing the Historic RL10 Rocket Engine with 3D Printing

The RL10 rocket engine, a stalwart in space exploration for nearly sixty years, is undergoing a significant upgrade via additive manufacturing. Aerojet Rocketdyne,... read more »

Aerospace
Revitalizing the Historic RL10 Rocket Engine with 3D Printing

Studio RAP’s Knit-Inspired 3D Printed Facade

Studio RAP, a Dutch architecture firm, recently completed a facade for an Amsterdam boutique using 3D printed ceramic tiles. The company is also... read more »

Construction
Studio RAP's Knit-Inspired 3D-Printed Facade

Accelerating Robotics: 3D Printed Wheels and Drone Motors

Padmalaya Rawal, a robotics maker, has developed a high-speed robot wheel using 3D printing and a modified drone motor. His design addresses the... read more »

Electronics
Accelerating Robotics: 3D Printed Wheels and Drone Motors

Immensa Scores $20 Million Series B Funding for Digital Warehouse

Immensa, a leader in additive manufacturing in the MENA region, recently raised $20 million in Series B funding. This move is significant in... read more »

News
Immensa Scores $20 Million Series B Funding for Digital Warehouse

Prusa Introduces Binary G-code Format for Enhanced Space Efficiency

Prusa has introduced a new binary G-code format, .dubbed “bgcode”, aimed at improving space efficiency in 3D printing. Traditional G-code, though widely used... read more »

News
Prusa Introduces Binary G-code Format for Enhanced Space Efficiency

Researchers Create Temperature-Responsive Polymer Composite for Robotics

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with the University of Houston, have developed a novel 3D printed polymer composite. This... read more »

Materials
Researchers Create Temperature-Responsive Polymer Composite for Robotics

MAN Truck & Bus Adopts Digital Inventory for 3D Printed Spares

MAN Truck & Bus has adopted digital inventory management for spare part manufacturing, particularly for parts no longer in production. This approach was... read more »

News
MAN Truck & Bus Adopts Digital Inventory for 3D Printed Spares

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
  • Modix BIG-120Z Modix BIG-120Z
    600 x 600 x 1200 mm
    from $7,500
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG-60 Modix BIG-60
    600 x 600 x 660 mm
    from $4,900
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG-120X Modix BIG-120X
    1200 x 600 x 660 mm
    from $7,500
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG Meter Modix BIG Meter
    980 x 1000 x 1000 mm
    from $13,500
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG-180X Modix BIG-180X
    1800 x 600 x 600 mm
    from $15,500
    Request a Quote
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Creality K1

    • - Print size: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $519.00 Amazon
    Buy Now
  • Anycubic Photon M5S

    • - Print size: 218 x 123 x 200 mm
    • - 19 micron print accuracy
    More details »
    $599.99 Amazon
    Buy Now
  • Bambu Lab X1 Carbon AMS Combo

    • - Print size: 256 x 256 x 256 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $1,499.00 MatterHackers
    Buy Now
  • Best 3D Printers 2023 – Buyers Guide

    Best 3D Printers 2023 – Buyers Guide

    View Post
  • 3D Printers for Beginners

    3D Printers for Beginners

    View Post

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2023 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing