Renishaw partners with IMR and nTopology to 3D print spinal implants

Renishaw announced not too long ago that it will be collaborating with Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and nTopology to demonstrate the advantages of additive manufacturing in the production of spinal implants. This collaboration also aims to show how much more streamlined the transition from design to additive manufacturing can be when working with partners.

Additive manufacturing revolutionising applications in the medical sector

Renishaw, based in the UK is a global engineering company and a leading company in additive manufacturing. The company supplies products used for applications as diverse as jet engine and wind turbine manufacture, through to dentistry and brain surgery. Their latest project focuses on developing a solution for patients with medical conditions that affect their spine. Conditions include degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis and osteoporosis. If the 3D printed spinal implants prove to be successful, they could help with surgery time for patients as well as lower the number of revision surgeries. Consequently, lowering healthcare resources and costs.

Earlier this year, it was researchers from the University of California, San Diego that were working on treating spinal cord injuries using 3D printing. Their technique involved 3D printing scaffolding around which stem cells could be implanted. The experiments on rats had shown promising results and they are now testing on larger animals.