Kan additiv produksjon forbedre diagnostisk teknologi i helsevesenet?

Additiv produksjon, med sine ulike anvendelser i flere industrier, spenner fra å lage drivstoffdyser for flymotorer til å reparere brennerhoder for gasturbiner. Den er kjent for sin holdbarhet, lettvektsegenskaper, evne til geometrisk optimalisering og redusert reparasjonstid, samt andre konkurransefordeler.

Innen helsevesenet har den etablert en betydelig tilstedeværelse. Merkverdig er at historien til additiv produksjon, eller 3D printing, har vært sammenvevd med medisinsk vitenskap i mange tiår.

Men før vi går dypere inn i potensialet til additiv produksjon i diagnostisk teknologi for helsevesenet, la oss først ha en kort oversikt over additiv produksjon. Vi vil utforske definisjonen og forstå dens kritiske rolle i utviklingen av medisinsk vitenskap.

Additiv produksjon og dens historie innen medisinsk vitenskap

The ASTM Society, earlier known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, defines additive manufacturing as “a process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies”

Medisinsk vitenskap har benyttet 3D-printing siden slutten av 1990-tallet og tidlig på 2000-tallet. Den hjalp med å produsere tannimplantater og tilpassede proteser. Dette var produkter som krevde pasientspesifikk tilpasning og ikke kunne produseres i store volumer. 3D-printing oppfylte disse kriteriene.

3D-printing hjalp også ortopedifeltet ved å la ortopediske kirurger lage en struktur som spesifikt matchet og etterlignet en pasients fysiologiske egenskaper. Tidligere hadde slike pasienter ingen andre alternativer enn å nøye seg med «én størrelse passer alle»-implantater. Fra implantater og proteser gikk neste steg med 3D-printing mot organiske etterlignende enheter.

Tidlig på 2000-tallet utnyttet forskerteamet ved Boston Children’s Hospital ‘scaffolding’, en konstruksjonsmetode som muliggjorde håndbygging av erstatningsblærer fra kollagen og syntetisk polymer. Metoden var imidlertid tidkrevende og vanskelig å reprodusere. Den var også en kostbar tilnærming til organbygging. Til slutt kom additiv produksjon inn på scenen for å hjelpe med å løse dette problemet.

Forskere ved Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine utviklet etter hvert maskiner som kunne trygt skrive ut organer og vev for kliniske studier. Etter denne fremgangen tok en gruppe brasilianske forskere saken videre ved å lykkes med bioprinting av organoider. Disse organoidene kunne utføre alle funksjoner til den menneskelige leveren, inkludert proteinsyntese, lagring av vitaminer og sekresjon av galle. Imidlertid var disse miniaturleveren ennå ikke levedyktige som transplanterbare erstatninger for ekte menneskelige lever.

På dette tidspunktet, selv om additiv produksjon eller 3D-printing fortsatte å finne verdi innen anvendt medisinsk vitenskap, var bruken fortsatt hovedsakelig begrenset til kliniske studier og laboratoriebaserte tester.

Naturlig nok kom det forskere og leger på tanken om å utnytte additiv produksjon for å forbedre diagnostisk teknologi i helsevesenet, som har en betydelig markedsstørrelse globalt.

Klikk her for listen over de beste 3D-bioprinting-aksjene.

Det globale markedet for diagnostisk teknologi i helsevesenet

The healthcare diagnostic technology market has been in an expansion mode. This growth is underscored by recent research and a survey carried out by Deloitte, revealing a significant increase in the number of US healthcare consumers using diagnostic technology for a variety of purposes from 2018 to 2022.

Spesielt økte andelen forbrukere som bruker wearables, apper, digitale assistenter og smarte enheter for å måle trenings- og helseforbedringsmål fra 42 % i 2018 til 49 % i 2022. I tillegg steg andelen som bruker disse teknologiene for å overvåke helseproblemer fra 27 % i 2018 til 34 % i 2022.

Ikke bare har adopsjonsraten steget, men diagnostisk teknologi i helsevesenet har også opplevd betydelig forbedrede tilfredshetsnivåer blant forbrukerne. Blant de som bruker disse enhetene, opplevde 78 % en positiv innvirkning på sin atferd. Totalt uttrykte 85 % av forbrukerne at de føler seg trygge på å bruke diagnostiske tester for å vurdere sin helse og helserisiko.

Konsekvensen av økt kundetilfredshet har positivt påvirket investor- og bransjeinteressen for diagnostisk teknologi i helsevesenet. I første halvdel av 2021 injiserte investorer nesten 15 milliarder USD i 372 digitale helsetransaksjoner, en betydelig økning sammenlignet med for et tiår siden, da antallet var under 100 avtaler og kun 1,1 milliarder USD i investeringer.

I tråd med denne positive bransjeinteressen for diagnostisk teknologi i helsevesenet, så også delsegmentet for additiv produksjonsapplikasjoner bemerkelsesverdige fremskritt. Et fremragende eksempel er utviklingen av umiddelbare 3D-printede tester av forskere ved McGill University.

Lab-on-a-Chip: Et 3D-printet gjennombrudd innen diagnostisk teknologi i helsevesenet

McGill University researchers have invented a ‘lab on a chip’ diagnostic technology that could be game-changing. The chip can be made through 3D printing within 30 minutes.

Professor David Juncker, Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at McGill and senior author of the study, said the technology would help “individuals, researchers, and industries to explore new possibilities and applications in a more cost-effective and user-friendly manner.”

The innovation in its applied form can help scale up and expedite diagnostic testing by equipping healthcare professionals with the scope and ability to “create tailored solutions for specific needs right at the point of care.”

Hvordan fungerer Lab-on-a-Chip?

The researchers developed capillary chips with the potential to function as miniature laboratories. Unlike computer microprocessors, these capillary chips are single-use and operate without an external power source. The process is facilitated by a simple paper strip that utilizes capillary action, similar to how paper towels absorb liquid spills on a kitchen table.

In this method, peripherals are not required, as is the case in traditional diagnostics. The capillary chips used in this method are 3D-printable and can be used for a range of tests, including COVID-19 antibody quantification.

3D-printing for kostnadseffektive metoder for sykdomsdeteksjon

MIT researchers have come up with another additive manufacturing or 3D printing-driven solution to create cheap and accurate disease-detection tools. The researchers, in this case, leverage 3D printing to produce self-heating microfluidic devices.

Microfluidics refers to the use of miniature machines that can manipulate fluids and facilitate chemical reactions. The technology is seen as a potential game changer as it can detect diseases in tiny samples of blood or fluids.

Microfluidics is already in use in the field of diagnosis. However, they often require a complicated and expensive fabrication process, which is hard to scale up.

The MIT team’s solution makes use of multi-material 3D printing to create self-heating microfluidic devices. These devices come with inbuilt heating elements.

The process requires a single and inexpensive manufacturing process. And the technology is highly customizable with the low-cost fabrication process requiring only around US$2 worth of materials to come up with a readily usable microfluidic.

With continued research underway in this field, many companies have decided to take additive manufacturing beyond the scope of laboratories and make it usable for large-scale usage. We will now look at some such companies and their solutions.

1. Allevi

Allevi, a company known for its bioprinting solutions in 3D tissue engineering, organ-on-chip research, drug testing, biomaterial development, and regenerative medicine, claims to serve hundreds of labs worldwide. Beyond this, it also offers a comprehensive range of additive manufacturing products, enhancing the field of healthcare and diagnosis. Its array of products includes bioprinting software, bioinks, additives, cells, reagents, and consumables.

Notably, Allevi produces some of the most technologically advanced bioprinters. Its Allevi 3 bioprinters are specifically designed and optimized for research in diverse areas such as tissue engineering, materials science, regenerative medicine, disease modeling, 3D culture, microphysiological systems, drug delivery, and more. Additionally, the company provides services like custom bioprints for various projects, including cell-free scaffolds, organ-on-a-chip, vasculature prints, and multi-material prints.

Allevi is now a part of 3D Systems Corporation (DDD ) (NYSE:DDD). In 2022, the company reported full-year revenue of $538,031,000, marking a 12.6% decrease from the 2021 revenue of $615,639,000. Additionally, it recorded a net loss of $122,711,000, which translates to a diluted loss per share of $0.96 and a diluted non-GAAP loss per share of $0.23 for the year 2022.

2. EOS

EOS provides a wide range of 3D printing solutions for medical technology, catering to both customized and optimized production paradigms. The company’s industrial 3D printing solutions for orthoses and prostheses enable manufacturers to adhere to stringent quality and certification guidelines while maintaining individual design freedom and managing costs.

In the field of dental technology, EOS’s 3D printing solutions assist laboratories and service providers in delivering consistently high-quality products. Additionally, EOS 3D printing technology is adept at creating a diverse array of surface structures. This capability is particularly beneficial for processes like osseointegration, facilitating the integration between living bone tissue and the surface of bone implants. EOS’s 3D printing technology also plays a crucial role in optimizing components for laboratory equipment and diagnostic imaging apparatus.

It benefits service providers with tool‑free production that helps reduce assembly costs. The solutions come with flexible design and functional integration properties. Moreover, EOS 3D printing technology also speeds up the development cycles and reduces the time‑to‑market period.

Transworld Systems kjøpte EOS for an undisclosed amount in desember 2021, which is a privately-held company headquartered out of Wilmington, Delaware, United States.

3. GE Additive 

GE Additive helps apply additive manufacturing in the field of medical sciences with product‑based solutions and 3D printing machines. Its EBM process for acetabular cups replaces traditional coatings with 3‑dimensional lattice structures, improving initial fixation and allowing for faster fusion and bone in‑growth.

Its lattice structures are designed for a clinically optimized pore size of 650 microns. GE additives also create certified, high‑performance powders for the orthopedic industry with high sphericity, low porosities, minimal satellite content, and best‑in‑class flowability and packing density.

GE also supplies additive manufacturing machines. Its Arcam EBM Q10 plus is optimized for the serial production of orthopedic implants. Its Concept Laser M2 Series 5 helps maintain consistency and produce repeatable, high‑quality parts at scale. Its Concept Laser Mlab family of instruments is suitable for the fast and efficient production of high‑surface quality parts.

For Q3 2023, GE reported a revenue of US$17.3 billion.

Fremtiden for additiv produksjon i diagnostikk innen helsevesenet

We have already seen researchers from topmost universities across the world working on additive manufacturing innovations. These innovations will definitely make healthcare diagnostics more accessible, less peripheral and consumable‑intensive, fast, and easy to deploy. Apart from the companies we have already mentioned above, many other innovative enterprises are working towards scaling up 3D printing solutions in health tech and med‑tech.

For instance, Belgium-based 3D printing firm Materialise offers 3D printing software for researchers and surgeons, personalized surgical guides, and other point‑of‑care tools. It also sells customizable orthopedics solutions, including shoulder, acetabular hip, and cranio‑maxillofacial implants.

Minnesota‑based Stratasys offers 3D printing capabilities for surgical planning models, healthcare professionals’ training and education, medical device prototyping, and dental implants.

A synergistic collaboration between researchers, scientific institutions, physicians, surgeons, and manufacturing companies would help leverage additive manufacturing or 3D printing further for the benefit of healthcare diagnostics.

Klikk her for listen over de ti beste aksjene innen additiv produksjon og 3D‑printing du bør følge med på.