Materials
Design considerations in 3D printing PEEK implants There are many design considerations that need to be accounted for in PEEK implants. While the design parameters are important from a regulatory perspective, they are most important from a performance perspective because without the right parameters, the end product will not have the desired properties and intended specifications. There are a number of different parameters that need to be considered across the build surface, making it more complex to manufacture an implant using 3D printing. This is because the process fundamentally changes the material whereas more conventional methods do not. They simply take a block of material and cut it to the desired shape, which does not change the fundamental properties of the material. Taking PEEK raw powder or filament and turning it into a fully fused part can change the microstructure and therefore the effective properties of the material, but it is more flexible because how the material is fused will affect the properties, enabling implants with tailored properties to be created.
The printing process used and the intended application are also important, as these factors govern what post-processing stages are undertaken. All of these factors must be considered when switching from milled to 3D-printed PEEK implants. While we may see these implants being made inside hospitals at the point of care, it is not always economically feasible, and the bulk of personalised 3D-printed PEEK implants will come from manufacturers who supply hospitals. According to Fleming, market dynamics suggest that PEEK devices will continue to gain importance in spinal procedures. “Interbody devices have shown steady growth in recent years, with devices using PEEK technology showing the strongest growth,” he says. “The global PEEK interbody market [is] registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% during 2023–33,” Fleming adds. By comparison, “the overall global spinal fusion market is predicted to experience a CAGR of 2.3% over the same period, indicating relatively strong growth for PEEK interbody devices.” Spinal fusion is primarily used to
www.medicaldevice-developments.com
decompress and stabilise the spine in the lumbar, cervical and thoracic regions. Indications include degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, trauma and spinal tumours. As Fleming explains: “Lumbar fusions dominate the market, with more than half of the patients being over the age of 50.” He adds that demographic shifts will continue to influence device demand: “The growth in the global spinal fusion market is driven by the increase in the elderly population, particularly in North America. “In the US, around 35% of the population is over the age of 50, and spinal fusion procedures are most prevalent among this demographic. “With evolving demographics driving the spinal fusion market, developing technologies will define the leading devices in the market.” ●
MMI058_NAMICS.indd 5
22/04/2026 09:41
73
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
