COMPANY CLAIMS WORLD’S FIRST 3D PRINTED FUSION IMPLANT (Orthopedics This Week)
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A patient in Germany with a degenerative cervical spine has received the world's first 3D printed titanium fusion implant.
EIT Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH (EIT), made that claim in May 19, 2015.
Uwe Spetzger, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery of the Klinikum Karlsruhe in Germany planned and performed the operation. Spetzger is the current president of the annual meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery.
EIT is a newly formed company that designed the implant along with its partner, 3D Systems.
“Additive” Manufacturing Process
The company says the "additive" manufacturing process allows the device to "mimic" highly porous trabecular bone structures. "EIT cellular titanium with micro-, macro- and nanostructural features provides high stability and speeds up the bone healing and fusion process. It provides an optimal biomechanical and biological environment for natural bone ingrowth without the need to add bone graft. The individualization adds the perfect match and exact fit to the patient's individual anatomy."
Spetzger said, "The future o...
