Implants from the 3D-Printer

Together with Jena-based 3di GmbH and Jena University Hospital, ifw Jena is investigating how jaw implants made of metal can be manufactured additively. The development could shorten waiting times for many patients and greatly accelerate the healing process.

In a research project, ifw Jena is currently supporting the Jena University Hospital together with 3di GmbH in producing 3D-printed jaw implants. "The challenge here is that the bone structure in each patient requires a highly individualized implant," says Sebastian Matthes, group leader for additive manufacturing at ifw Jena, "which means that we have to produce individual pieces of high precision. Additive manufacturing offers ideal conditions for this."

3D design data can be customized on the basis of mechanical simulations and then additively manufactured. In the research project, implants are manufactured at ifw Jena using the powder bed process and then tested for their load-bearing capacity in fatigue tests with 4 million repetitions. In parallel, 3di GmbH is manufacturing implants using CNC milling. At the end of the project, the aim is to develop processes for machine-produced implants that can be customized for each patient and still be manufactured quickly and cost-effectively.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM).

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