Salzburg University Hospital performs surgery with technology from 3D Systems

3D Systems announced that Salzburg University Hospital successfully used the company’s portfolio of additive point-of-care manufacturing technologies to design and manufacture its first 3D-printed PEEK cranial implant as a custom device for individual patient needs. Clinicians combined these technologies to meet patient needs and provide a customized solution.

The hospital used Oqton’s D2P software to create 3D models from patient CT images and Oqton’s Geomagic Freeform to complete the design of the patient-specific occipital prosthesis. The cranial implant was printed using Evonik’s VESTAKEEP i4 3DF PEEK on 3D Systems’ Kumovis R1 extrusion platform. PEEK is a desirable material for medical devices because it is lightweight, resistant to thermal and ionizing radiation, and has mechanical properties similar to human bone. Kumovis’ printing platform was designed specifically for such point-of-care applications.

According to a February 2023 report by Acumen Research and Consulting, the market for cranial implants was approximately $1.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $2.1 billion by 2030. Technological advancements, including materials and manufacturing methods such as 3D printing, are expected to provide new solutions and drive growth in this market.

In commenting on this groundbreaking surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO of 3D Systems commented, “We are thrilled for Mr. Trummer and the relief this procedure has given him, and deeply indebted to the talented surgeons and staff at Salzburg University Hospital who brought together for the first time our unique software, hardware, and materials technologies in a point-of-care hospital setting to address his specific needs.

We believe that this success provides a real-life demonstration of the potential for enhancing orthopedic outcomes through the use of comprehensive digital manufacturing technologies in a hospital setting. Our focus on point-of-care implementation of these integrated technologies is a key priority for our company, and one that we believe will bring significant benefits to patients around the world in the years ahead.”

Find out more about 3D Systems at 3dsystems.com.