Formlabs is pleased to announce two new materials for direct 3D printing of elastomeric, biocompatible medical devices and models. BioMed Flex 80A Resin and BioMed Elastic 50A Resin further expand 3D printing possibilities in medical device and medical component manufacturing as well as at the point of care in hospitals and in medical service bureaus.
Traditionally, professionals in these industries must rely on multi-step silicone molding processes, which are often labor-intensive and messy or they must outsource to expensive contract manufacturers.
Now, with BioMed Flex 80A Resin and BioMed Elastic 50A Resin, professionals can combine the benefits of traditional elastomeric and biocompatible materials with the ease of use and streamlined workflow of Formlabs resin 3D printers.
Flexibility, Transparency, and Biocompatibility Enable New 3D Printing Applications
With the introduction of BioMed Flex 80A Resin and BioMed Elastic 50A Resin, medical device companies, healthcare professionals, and surgical planning bureaus finally have access to streamlined workflows that combine the best of 3D printing with the best of biocompatibility and materials. Formlabs’ commitment to maintaining regulated and certified workflows ensures that users can have full confidence that these parts are ISO 10993 and USP Class VI tested and produced in an FDA-registered, ISO 13485 certified facility.
BioMed Flex 80A Resin has a Shore hardness of 80A and elongation of 120% at break, meaning that parts will return to their original shape after deformation, and allow the manipulation of the part during study or testing. These parts can be used for flexible components on devices and patient-specific instruments such as short-term mucosal membrane tubes that are customized to the patient’s anatomy. For surgeons, anatomical models that more closely resemble firm tissue can be brought into the O.R. for study and reference during a procedure, which has been shown to improve the outcome and patient recovery time.
BioMed Elastic 50A Resin’s elastic properties, shore hardness of 50A, and elongation of 150% at break, enable new 3D printing applications for biocompatible workflows. The parts can be easily bent, manipulated, and compressed, enabling components such as gaskets and seals or thin, flexible enclosures for medical device companies. BioMed Elastic 50A Resin’s transparent properties mean that tube-like parts can show fluid moving through them, so customized, biocompatible fluidic devices can be manufactured cost-effectively in medical settings. BioMed Elastic 50A Resin is also ideal for 3D printing soft-tissue models that surgeons can bring into the O.R. for reference, or even comfortable patient-specific long-term skin contact parts like nose tubing, patches, or more.
Streamlining Workflows for Medical-Grade Flexible Parts
Formlabs’ Form 3B/+ and Form 3BL printers enable medical device manufacturers and healthcare professionals to fabricate models, devices, and components easily and cost-effectively. The small footprint and low-touch workflow of the platform make it easy to use in a hospital setting where space is scarce, as well as scale effectively at manufacturing sites.
These two new resins enable medical professionals to remove steps in their fabrication process and streamline workflows. Directly 3D printing biocompatible and flexible parts can now be done with the same consistency and reliability that Formlabs has brought to so many other applications.
BioMed Flex 80A Resin and BioMed Elastic 50A Resin can remove barriers that exist in medical device manufacturing and anatomical modeling workflows—ensuring that users can focus on what’s important, and eliminating the need for laborious silicone molding processes. Watch our webinar for more details on the two materials or schedule a consultation with a medical 3D printing specialist about integrating them into your workflow.