Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups in the healthcare industry. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we decided to share our insights with you. This time, we are taking a look at 5 promising additive manufacturing solutions for the healthcare industry.
Heat Map: 5 Top Additive Manufacturing Startups
For our 5 picks of additive manufacturing startups, we used a data-driven startup scouting approach to identify the most relevant solutions globally. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 interesting examples out of 572 relevant solutions. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.
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During the Coronavirus pandemic, additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, has already proven to save lives. A hospital in Italy urgently needed valves for an intensive care device as the original supplier was unable to provide it on short notice. Isinnova brought a 3D printer directly to the hospital and managed to produce the missing piece within a few hours.
In the following, we’ll deep-dive into 5 more use cases of additive manufacturing in the healthcare sector:
Open Bionics – Prosthetic Devices
Traditional methods for fitting prosthetic devices currently rely on molding, casting, and several fitting and adjustment iterations. When combined with 3D scanning methods, metal 3D printing simplifies the process. Time, cost, and weight can be stripped away when prosthetics are pared down to their essential function while improving functionality and comfort.
The UK-based startup Open Bionics develops affordable, assistive devices that enhance the human body. Hero Arm is their first 3D-printed bionic arm, available for upper limb amputees, for patients below 9 years of age. Special sensors detect muscle movements, which are then translated to effortless control of the bionic hand with intuitive life-like precision.
Arfona – Dental Restorative Products
Dental products are uniquely suited for the 3D printing process due to their small size, a high degree of customization to each patient, and complex traditional manufacturing methods. The increasing accessibility of this technology means a higher proportion of all restorative work will be accomplished using additive manufacturing going forward.
The US-based Arfona offers tooth replacements with 3D printing partial dentures. By partnering with dental material manufacturers, Arfona is able to use its 3D printers to produce popular products such as partial dentures to save time and money for both dentists and patients.
Cellbricks – Tissue & Organ Printing
Additive manufacturing empowers researchers to investigate functional human tissues for fundamental biological research or advanced regenerative therapies. 3D printing allows for a layer-by-layer construction of a particular organ structure to form a cell scaffold for following cell seeding. Or cells can even be integrated into the printable material.
German startup Cellbricks works on a bioprinting technology, which enables three-dimensional printing of biological material. The company produces organ-models, living 3D cell cultures and scaffolds. Cellbricks established its technology and created its first mini-organs finding application in state of the art tissue engineering.
Next Big Innovation Lab – Skin Bioprinting
3D skin tissues can be used as models to study various skin ailments, for medical students to practice the suturing of wounds or how to effectively treat scars — benefitting the cosmetic and pharma markets.
Indian Next Big Innovation Lab develops 3D skin tissue. Their aim is to 3D print human skin for burn victims and those with dermatological ailments. 3D bio-printed skin also allows cosmetic manufacturers to work on developing formulas without animal testing.
Xilloc – Custom Implants
The human body and a patient’s anatomy should be the starting point for the design and engineering of individual implants and prosthetics. 3D printing provides the possibility to produce both standard and individually engineered products.
Netherlands-based Xilloc specializes in patient-specific, 3D printed medical implants to reconstruct parts of the human skeleton. The startup offers industrial 3D printing services in all printable materials such as metals, polymers, and ceramics.
What About The Other 567 Additive Manufacturing Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence for your Proof of Concept (PoC), partnership, or investment targets. The 5 additive manufacturing startups showcased above are promising examples out of 572 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria and collaboration strategy, get in touch.
