Singapore gets new R&D Lab for 3D Printing in Healthcare

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) are to set up a joint research and development laboratory for additive manufacturing as part of a collaboration with NTU Singapore.

The innovations, which are currently still in the development phase, could represent a significant advance in pioneering healthcare solutions and redefine patient treatment if successfully implemented.

The collaboration leverages the combined expertise and resources of SGH’s 3D Printing Center and NTU’s Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP) to study and develop technologies for clinical applications in a point-of-care setup.

The Joint R&D Lab in additive manufacturing focuses on four research areas:

1. Prosthetic and Orthotic Devices This involves developing skills in the modeling and application of additive manufacturing methods for prosthetic and orthotic devices, including ankle-foot orthoses, wrist-hand orthoses and transtibial amputation sockets.
2. Bioprinting for regenerative medicine This research area aims to develop capabilities for 3D printing of living tissue, known as bioprinting, specifically for regenerative medicine. This includes research into clinical applications of bioprinting and the transfer of existing research into practical clinical application.
3. 3D-printed implants at the point of care The development of capabilities for 3D printing medical implants directly at the point of care is the third research focus. This includes exploring the potential of technologies such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone) and metal 3D printing to manufacture implants for specific medical procedures.
4. Additive manufacturing technology landscape for healthcare applications Reviewing and improving the additive manufacturing technology landscape specifically for 3D printing in healthcare involves identifying and developing potential applications with clinical significance.

This research initiative represents an important step towards integrating advanced 3D printing technology into a variety of medical needs. The lab will not only thoroughly investigate the feasibility and infrastructure requirements for printing implants, but also ensure that implementation is efficient and effective.