INNOVATION


they are all still affordable and accurate with this technology. It also allows for a very quick turn-around; sometimes you can have an engineered printed part in less than 24 hours.” 3D printing promises to deliver greater flexibility for design engineers by decreasing wastage in design, eliminating tooling and lowering life cycle costs. This combined with the recent maturity of the 3D printing process, with advanced materials, printer and innovations, means the technology is now ready to develop new medical devices that were previously either too difficult or expensive to create.


3D printed mitral valve model for pre-surgery planning


The design team has recently been approached by a health Trust to engineer bespoke parts for medical research, including the development of research equipment for testing the feasibility of a proposed new mitral valve intervention.


The equipment holds and tests valves that have been made to simulate diseased ones and then repeats the tests with the proposed interventions in place. Pressure and flow are measured to prove that the valve is being tested in realistic conditions. Additionally, because the valves are tested with forward and reverse flow, their ability to seal and minimise regurgitation can be checked and quantified. This is the very first step to proving if the intervention is feasible. A further benefit that was designed into


3D printing promises to deliver greater flexibility for design engineers by decreasing wastage i n design, eliminating tooling and lowering life cycle costs.


the equipment, is that it allows almost any artificial Tricusp valve to be demonstrated and tested in a similar way to the mitral valve. The need for many different tube connections meant that it was the perfect project for additive manufacturing. The proposed solution combines standard medical components and 3D printed parts of different materials as well as a metal mounting panel to provide a compact and neat tool with all the necessary features built in.


The future


Bennett continued: “The bespoke medical devices that we have designed are making a difference already. They are helping to provide cleaner and safer operating theatres through more efficient ergonomic design that aids sterilisation and saves precious time. This however, is just the periphery of what can be achieved. “Great strides have been taken in recent years, leading to both biological (the ability to print living tissues) and artificial 3D printing applications for bone, arteries, skin and even organs for example. This growth


will transform the medical sector, providing new biological advances right through to improvements on a smaller scale, in the busy operating theatres where mass produced devices are increasingly being customised to deliver healthcare improvements.”


Bennett Engineering


Design Solutions Bennett Engineering Design Solutions is a privately owned limited company based in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The company was established by John Bennett in 1999 and became incorporated in 2003. John spent many years in engineering design and development, which led him to project management and plant maintenance, before setting up Bennett Engineering Design Solutions.


CSJ


FIXED STORAGE SOLUTIONS


ZARGES fitted cabinets and internal storage modules are manufactured to HTM 71, available in a variety of heights and choice of materials.


Every project has its own unique requirements


so ZARGES uses state-of-the-art design tools to provide a clear visual of how to optimise space more efficiently.


Contact us to discuss any project large or small. ZARGES UK Ltd, Milton Keynes | 01908 641118 | medicalsystems@zarges.co.uk | zarges-medical.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2017 WWW.CLINICALSERVICESJOURNAL.COM I 43


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