3D LifePrints launches medical AM solutions model in the USA
November 8, 2021
3D LifePrints, a medical Additive Manufacturing company headquartered in Liverpool, UK, has announced that it will launch its Point of Care business model in the US. The ISO 13485 certified company offers a wide range of metal and polymer AM solutions and is supported by the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) and is currently part of the ABHI US Accelerator programme in partnership with Dell Medical School, based in Austin, Texas, USA.
3D LifePrints is opening new embedded Additive Manufacturing facilities in Texas, where its team will work closely with surgeons and clinicians at the host hospitals to provide AM solutions, initially including virtual and AM patient-specific anatomical models, as well as custom-made surgical simulation and training devices. These devices are used across a wide range of surgical specialities, including paediatric, cardiothoracic, orthopaedic, oncology and cranio-maxillofacial.
This latest move marks the company’s first international expansion and is expected to be followed by the launch of new ‘Point of Care Hubs’ in a number of other states, in partnerships with leading US hospitals. The aim of this approach is to provide a unique in-house medical AM service that can support hospitals in lowering their operational costs and improving patient outcomes. 3D LifePrints also offers a remote service via its digital platform, EmbedMed™.
The Point of Care service includes: on-site biomedical engineers, a range of advanced Additive Manufacturing hardware, and a suite of software. The embedded nature enables the host hospital to access all the benefits of having an in-house service, including ease of access to an engineer and immediate delivery of devices.
In order to support the company in its US strategy, Stanford and Harvard educated American physician and former NASA astronaut Dr Scott E Parazynski has been appointed to the company’s leadership team and board of directors to assist with this long-term strategic move. Since retiring from NASA, he founded Fluidity Technologies, a company that aims to manufacture and distribute novel control devices for mobility in 3D space.
“3D printing is revolutionising the healthcare industry across the globe, providing surgeons and clinicians with patient specific products and services in order to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs,” stated Paul Fotheringham, founder & Chief Technology Officer. “We are delighted to begin our international expansion in the US, where we are already able to provide a range of our state-of-the-art 3D medical solutions. It is also a huge honour for us to welcome Dr Parazynski to our leadership team; to have attracted a figure of his calibre demonstrates the ambitions of our company.”
Paul Benton, Managing Director, International ABHI, commented, “We are thrilled to hear of 3D LifePrints’ success in the US, whose unique business model and technologies are helping to advance care both for patients and clinicians. I am delighted that through programmes like the US Accelerator, UK-based companies can find the opportunity to connect with new partners and extend the benefits of their services.”
