In the medical field, innovation means saving lives. Wayken 3D printing and CNC machining help doctors, researchers and medical device manufacturers increase productivity, conduct comprehensive medical device prototype, and customize personalized care. From a future perspective, the cost of medical expenses is getting higher and higher. Subject to traditional medical devices, patients are under increasing pressure. Flexibility to adjust and accelerate the pace of innovation can improve or improve profitability while improving the quality of patient care. Our 3D printing solutions, including technology, materials, services and healthcare expertise, can help you strengthen clinical and economic value at every step of the healthcare care delivery value chain.
CNC milling and turning are key aspects of medical equipment manufacturing. Tegra Medical’s extensive vertical machining centers and multi-spindle lathes give us the flexibility and ability to process a wide range of products, from tiny components used in arthroscopy to large reusable devices for hip, knee and spine surgery.
Using 5-axis high-speed milling and multi-axis turning functions, we can process complex shapes in one setting, thereby reducing production costs, time and potential errors. 5- axis CNC milling is a particularly economical alternative to prototyping and short production of multiple clamps. But cost-effectiveness is only part of the story. 5-axis CNC milling produces more accurate parts because the five sides of the parts can be machined without reducing the position accuracy.
- Disadvantages of Medical Equipment
The development and future of medical devices prototyping are also faced with many challenges. In recent years, the state has regulated the management of production, operation, purchase, and use of medical equipment from a macroscopic and policy level by issuing a series of medical equipment management regulations. Medical institutions face a very severe test in the management of medical equipment. The rapid replacement of medical equipment has made the contradiction between the widespread application of hospitals and the relatively lagging medical equipment management and technical support level. There are the following main problems.
(1) The medical equipment management system lacks standards, authoritative guidelines, management rules and assessment systems to make it non-standard.
(2) The backward management mode does not adapt to the development of modern medical equipment.
(3) Quality and safety hazards in medical equipment
(4) The development of hospital medical equipment is constrained by the lagging construction of clinical engineering disciplines
And unlike other industries, innovative R&D is not just a buzzword in the medical industry. It is the key to improving medical outcomes and impacting the patient market. The importance of medical device validation and development is whether it can affect the market with devices with good clinical effects.
- The Cost of R&D Innovation
In general, the cost of product development is related to the early and late discovery of defects in the design cycle. The later the discovery, the expensive re-manufacturing cost, the re-opening fee, the higher the R&D cost, or the time constraints. The result of giving up the change defects, the earlier it is discovered, the more cost-effective and the time-to-market of the early products. Prolonged or missed opportunities will only be in an unfavorable competitive position, and even worse, it may have adverse effects on doctors and patients.
Accelerate Innovation
Wayken 3D printing and CNC Machining solutions are extremely flexible, saving design costs, optimizing designs, and speeding time to create various prototypes for various products, speeding time-to-market. Precise prototyping can fully represent the appearance, texture and material properties of the required medical device. 3D printing or CNC machining can be performed directly using 3D files and modified and optimized as required.
Speed up the elimination of defects. Parts are made from specific materials to make the test of appearance,fit and function more reliable with low CNC prototyping cost. Produce high-performance equipment with high temperature resistance, high strength and corrosion resistance.
- Preclinical medical device validation – testing with 3D printing or CNC machining to optimize equipment design; more accurate and convincing test results to help you release mature products in less time.
Limitations: Preclinical R&D testing helps to meet national institutional requirements, assess whether new devices meet clinical criteria, and protect patient safety. Models used to evaluate equipment performance generally have significant limitations: access is scarce and expensive, and environmental regulations are followed. These limitations have led, for example, to the fact that human organs may not be able to reveal hidden design flaws, until the discovery is too late.
Accurate diagnosis of the condition is obtained by testing the detailed prototype structure. For example, embedded sensors simulate blood flow and a large number of living tissue features. The 3D printed model is inexpensive and free to choose a test location, ensuring a solid technical foundation for the equipment before it goes into production.
- Medical equipment is limited by traditional commercial small-volume sales and high-volume manufacturing, as well as 3D printing and CNC processing, which can eliminate manufacturing restrictions, make production more flexible, and make new products more market-oriented and repercussions.
- Restricted by tradition: traditional medical equipment generally requires mold opening during clinical trials, commercial small-volume sales, and high-volume manufacturing, which results in product cycle and cost complexity due to product design. As the degree increases, the manufacturing process can have a large impact on the design. And when the manufacturing cost exceeds the budget or the verification effect cannot meet the requirements, the innovative idea may be abandoned. Efficient and flexible Wayken 3D printing and CNC machining complement the traditional manufacturing deficiencies, helping medical device manufacturers reduce costs, streamline operations, reduce time-to-market, and drive product innovation.
- Avoid unnecessary rework costs due to repetitive manufacturing: 3D printing requires only a small portion of the cost of machining, and the printed 3D medical model uses real patient data to effectively display the physical characteristics of the target pathological structure. Design changes and optimizations for physician adjustments and custom models can be continued for a variety of clinical situations, allowing for more design and mold modifications in less time. This comprehensive product testing has also reduced time for product launches.
- The process of prototyping to the final product: Generally speaking, the production cycle can take 3D printing or CNC machining to produce parts, molds, models or objects from several hours to several days.
- For individual patients, by creating a condition that mimics the individual patient’s condition, such as bones, visceral tissue, and vascular system, it helps to provide an effective solution to the patient’s symptoms and can increase the doctor’s confidence and patient acceptance.
3D printing creates the patient’s location, and the doctor improves the clinical outcome by analyzing the printed patient’s real data model. With a model derived from the patient’s scan, the treatment plan can be refined before surgery. Real physical models have many advantages, such as physical, spatial, and tactile sensations, which can help optimize preoperative preparation, enhance confidence, and shorten surgery time.
3D printing also enables the creation of customized surgical instruments, custom surgical instruments for patient pathology, 3D printed custom molds and cutting guides with strong sterility and biocompatible materials for precise control of surgical wounds or for preoperative patients. The implant is shaped to help optimize preoperative preparation and improve the accuracy and efficiency of the procedure.
