Medical 3D printing needs a common measuring standard

Fried Vancraen, CEO of Materialise has called upon industry stakeholders to agree on a common standard for measuring the clinical, economical and patient benefits of medical 3D printing

3D printed anatomical models, guides and implants will be part of the future of patient treatment but unlike the mass-produced medical device industry, adoption of 3D printing needs more generally accepted measurement standards, according to Materialise.

The application of consistent and complete evidence-gathering methodologies across the industry could significantly foster the adoption of 3D Printing application in the healthcare sector, the company has said.

Materialise hopes that a unified initiative addressing the clinical measurement challenge will further enhance the healthcare industry’s confidence in the clinical benefits of medical 3D Printing.

Vancraen said: “There have been several initiatives aimed at properly measuring and validating the clinical benefits of medical 3D Printing, but all have suffered from a lack of coordination and agreed-upon research methodologies.

“The fact is, we can only be successful if we take an evidence-based approach across the industry, acting in concert with a set of protocols, methodologies and measurement guidelines.

A set of globally accepted guidelines adopted by the major medical 3D printing industry players will, according to Materialise, convince key stakeholders like physicians, hospitals and policy makers to accelerate adoption of the technology.

Vancraen said: “With the proper scientific rigor, our ambition of gaining widespread acceptance of medical 3D Printing will be realised more swiftly and the patients whom we aim to serve will benefit the most.

“The goal is nothing short of establishing the groundwork for producing solid clinical evidence on 3D printed medical applications, including anatomical models, patient-specific guides and implants

“Anything short of this will slow down the wonders of medical 3D Printing from becoming available to patients and medical professionals the world over.”

Materialise said it will be leading this initiative as the founding sponsor of the Building Evidence for 3D Printing Applications in Medicine event hosted by SME on May 19-20 in Orlando, Florida.