3D-Printed Titanium cranial implant approved by US Food & Drug Administration

The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) has approved a 3D-printed, titanium, cranial/craniofacial patient-specific plate implant for use in the US. The implant was designed by Brazil-based BioArchitects, and is 3D printed using Sweden-based Arcam’s electron beam melting (EBM) process.

According to Design News this is the first 3D-printed implanused in the US. The design takes advantage of the light weight and tensile strength of a biocompatible titanium alloy.

The first patient-specific, 3D-printed, titanium cranial implant in the US has been approved by the FDA, designed by BioArchitects and produced using Arcam's electron beam melting (EBM) process. 3D printing integrates the attachment heads into the plate, improving tensile strength over that of separate attachment brackets used for conventionally made implants. (Source: BioArchitects)