Materialise has had a big weekend, as the 3D printing service bureau and software developer continues to expand post-IPO. After first announcing the release of their 3D scanning and measurement services and reporting Paula Radcliffe 3D-printed running comeback, Materialise has made big news in the medical field with new technology capable of converting 2D X-ray images into 3D information. Moreover, a patient has already undergone a total knee surgery with the aid of this software.
Materialise has extensive products and services for the medical industry and is well-known for software that can create 3D models using 3D data captured from CT and MRI scans. In the past, these models could then be used to 3D print patient-specific surgical guides for knee surgeries, but, due to the time and cost of undergoing CT and MRI scans, such 3D printed guides were only used in a fraction of the total knee replacement surgeries. With Materialise’s new proprietary technology, it’s now possible for them to 3D print patient-specific surgical guides with only 2D X-ray images.
Dr. Roger Jaeken, an orthopedic surgeon at the AZ Heilige Familie (Holy Family General Hospital) in Reet, Belgium has just performed the world’s first complete knee replacement surgery using the process. By creating 3D models from X-rays, Dr. Jaeken was not only able to pre-plan the surgery, but also to 3D print surgical guides for the procedure, as well. The doctor says of Materialise’s technology, “I’m very excited to be part of this development project. The ability to work from X-ray images will make the surgical preplanning process even more efficient. This is because, in many instances, patients will no longer have to undergo an often time-consuming CT or MRI scan, lead times will become shorter, and more cases will become eligible for preoperative planning.”
Materialise CEO Fried Vancraen adds, “At Materialise, we initiated the R&D program that is at the source of our new X-ray based technology shortly after the successful introduction of our CT/MRI based guide technology. The reason for this is our continued drive to stay one step ahead of the industry. We consider the first treatment of a patient with our X-ray technology as an important landmark in this development program.”
As Dr. Jaeken suggests, this could be quite important for bring 3D printing into the medical industry at an accelerated pace, as it reduces the need to use CT and MRI scans in favor of the more affordable, easier to implement X-ray technology. The company will be evaluating the technology further with a limited release in Europe. Once it’s tested there, Materialise will be bringing it overseas to the United States, where it will be processed for regulatory clearance.
