On the early morning of 5/31/2019, we had our first successful online Pitch3D event. This event is set to be recurrent each month, aiming to create an opportunity for early-stage startups in the realm of healthcare 3D printing, bioprinting, and advanced materials to have first meetings with a curated panel institutional investors. The presentations are meant to be short (10 minutes max.) but aim to get to the bottom line quickly to stage a second 1:1 meeting that would be more in depth and longer with interested investors. The online format also avoids the opportunity cost of the investor-startup meeting due to time and geographic barriers. To pitch in our future sessions, the application is here. To be included in our investor mailing list, you must be qualified institutional investors, please email us directly: info@3dheals.com.

Our live Pitch3D session will occur concurrently with 3DHEALS event globally. Next live Pitch3D will be in Boston on July 18th, 2019. The application is here.

Presenting Startups Summary:

8:00-8:15 AM Deep Health (Isreal)
Deep Health uses advanced AI tools to change the way surgery is planned and done. We are currently concentrating on Spine surgeries due to the complexity of the procedure. 3D Scanning. Software.

8:15-8:30 AM Kumovis (Munich, Germany)

KUMOVIS develops 3D-printing systems for medical applications. Our system is designed to manufacture a high variety of medical products starting from prototyping up to personalized human implants. h

8:30-8:45 AM PrinterPrezz (Fremont, USA)

PrinterPrezz brings together an operating room and advanced
manufacturing expertise under one roof.

8:45- 9:00 AM Fluidform (Boston, USA)

Fluidform 3D printing builds the additive manufacturing platform for 3D printing silicone, 3D bioprinting, and more.

Related Articles:

3DHeals Brazil: Healthcare 3D Printing Next Generation!

Pitch3D! Startup Summaries and Contacts

Pitch3D! Boston, June 18th, 2018- See Who Is Pitching

The post Pitch3D May 2019: Deep Health; Kumovis; PrinterPrezz; Fluidform appeared first on 3DHeals.

Want to write a piece for 3DHEALS Expert Corner? Email us: info@3dheals.com

In this series of three articles, we explore five critical risk areas related to data integrity, their consequences, and ways to mitigate them.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is fundamentally changing how the medical industry designs, manufactures, distributes, and maintains products. Soon, all medical products will be part of a digital process — from design through simulation to manufacturing. Additive manufacturing has the potential to offer a faster, more flexible supply chain that accelerates the prototyping process, decreases time to market, reduces waste, and better serves the needs of clients and patients. This benefits the industry in the development of prosthetics, implants, bioprinted organs, spare parts for medical equipment and drugs by lowering the cost production and enabling fully customized products to be made available at the time and place of need.

But, like any other industry going through the digitalization of its products, new challenges are emerging that have created vulnerabilities along the supply chain. The digitization of the medical industry is unique in many ways because of manufacturing regulations, healthcare compliance, and the sensitivity of data such as electronic health care records and personal data.  

According to the RegData’s Industry Regulation Index, the medical industry ranks in the top 10 most-regulated industries because of the high volume of data and rapidly shifting requirements. Additionally, medical manufacturing is a $156B market and is one of the top five most-targeted industries for cyber attacks.

As the medical industry digitizes its supply chain and manufacturing processes, there are five key challenges related to management and control of data (such as the design, engineering and manufacturing data required to additively manufacture anything).

1.      IP risk: if competition (through either legitimate or nefarious actions) gets access to these data, this ultimately leads to potential loss of revenue for the owner of the IP (by way of comparison, consider how the entertainment industry was transformed by the arrival of file sharing and unauthorized reproduction).

2.             Production risk: parts can be produced by any owner of a 3D printer, without following any standard or material requirements — and lacking quality control. This can easily lead to products of inferior quality and performance.

3.             Traceability risk: the lack of connection between a physical part that is additively produced and its digital twin can lead to concerns about the authenticity of part (Did it originate from the latest design? Was it manufactured the right way with the appropriate material? And so on).

4.             Liability risk: since manufacturers are liable for defects in their products — defects in design, manufacture, or foreseeable misuse — the loss of control over data or production process can lead to greater exposure or even legal liability regarding product defects and misuse.

5.             Confidentiality risk: protecting the confidentiality and privacy of personal health data is critical in the medical sector. Therefore, some of these data will be associated with design and manufacturing data for the production of individualized medical devices such as as customized prostheses, implants, and bioprinting. There are implications here regarding data risk exposure that the healthcare sector will have to address.

In my next article, I will discuss these risks in more detail and review options and approaches to help mitigate them.

About the Author:

Stephan is currently the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Identify3d, a software company that develops software solutions for Digital Manufacturing, in charge of Strategy and Business Development. Identify3d enables the Digital Thread through design protection, manufacturing repeatability, and traceability. Stephan has more than 25 years of experience in Operations, Supply Chain, M&A and Restructuring with companies such as EY, Alvarez & Marsal and REL Consultancy. He holds an M.B.A. from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and a Master in management from Dauphine University (France). Stephan also lectures at the Berkeley-Columbia Executive M.B.A. on performance improvement topics. He is a board member of 3D4pro, an Additive Manufacturing Saas company.

Related Articles:

Cybersecurity for 3D Printed Medical Devices: Less Crazy and More Useful Than Bitcoins – by Jenny Chen, M.D.

3D Printing Poses Unique Security Risks for Medical Devices – by Farah Tabibkhoei, J.D.

Five Reasons Cybersecurity Will Play Critical Role in 3D Printing in Healthcare – Part 2

Five Reasons Cybersecurity Will Play a Critical Role in 3D Printing in Healthcare – Part 3

The post Five Reasons Cybersecurity Will Play a Critical Role in 3D Printing in Healthcare – Part 1 appeared first on 3DHeals.

Dr. Mayra Vasques is a Ph.D. Fellow at School of Dentistry at the University of Sao Paulo, where she leads a project in 3D printing focused on offering the digital technology as one solution for the patient with orofacial pain and dental patients with functional limitation. She is deeply involved in creating a positive ecosystem and accessibility for digital technology and 3Dprinting for patients and dentists adapting it to an emergent market reality (Brazil). Dr. Vasques will be a speaker at #3DHEALS2018. 
Jenny: When was the first encounter you had with 3D printing? What was that experience like? What were you thinking at that moment?
Mayra: It was in 2014, I started a Ph.D. project in 3D printing occlusal splints. My focus was mainly the clinical aspects and I was not familiar with the 3D technology, actually, I was counting that I would find someone that had the experience and the interest in this area, what did not happen..
First time I saw a 3D printer working my mind was blown away and I realized all the potential it had and that I had to dominate it all to really develop me and my project and improve the healthcare of my patients. I knew that I had to make that happen.
Jenny: What inspired you to start your journey/company/career/research in 3D printing (bio-fabrication/bio-printing)?
Mayra: I spent part of my time teaching dentists how to deliver a great occlusal splint for bruxism and temporomandibular dysfunction treatments but I was limited by time and space, so I started wondering how I could use technology to concentrate this knowledge and automate the process as much as possible. At the same time, there was an opportunity to start a Ph.D. study at the University of Sao Paulo and one of my advisors told me to think about working with 3D technology because this must be the future in dentistry. So I decided to mix these ideas and in 2015 I started my Ph.D. project of 3D printing occlusal splint. Since then, I´m developing a blind clinical trial (evaluating splint´s fit, biological responses of oral tissues, patients comfort and compliance and time spent to fabricate and adjust the splints). The project grew up and there are branches of the project being developed with other related subjects focused on patients with functional limitations.
                        
Jenny: Who inspired you the most along this journey in 3D printing (bio-printing/bio-fabrication)? This can be a mentor, a patient, a celebrity, anyone basically. You can name more than one as well.
Mayra: I was inspired firstly by one of my advisors and by my curiosity. Through this path, as each difficult emerged, I was impacted by a bunch of people in the internet community. This showed me the power of the collaborative work when people get together because they understand that it develops themselves and the community faster. Had it not, I was probably in big trouble during this project, because as it is a new technology the knowledge is not established, and sharing what you know is the best knowledge improvement option. In my environment, it was not usual. The knowledge transmission was basically from an institution to the people, so 3D printing showed me in practice how it is to think outside the box.
Jenny: What motivates you the most for your work?
Mayra: To work with 3D tech is a world of possibilities, for me and for the patients. I have to make it happen and be part of this revolution. At the best and the worst moments I always think about it.
Jenny: What is/are the biggest obstacle(s) in your line of work? If you have conquered them, what were your solutions?
Mayra: During this path, the biggest challenges were the support. Things definitely changed in the last 4 years, but I had to face a lot of distrust and resources limitations. I was recommended to give up countless times. At some point, my family decided to support me and invest in my dream. I owe much of the project success to them.
Jenny: What do you think is (are) the biggest challenge(s) in 3D Printing/bio-printing? What do you think the potential solution(s) is (are)?
Mayra: For me, the biggest challenge in 3D printing nowadays are the biocompatible materials. Despite its huge development in the last years- it needs to be extensively tested and improved for long-term use in humans, considering that the goal is to overcome the established materials considering biological and mechanical aspects.
Jenny: If you are granted three wishes by a higher being, what would they be?
Mayra: 

• To be able and have the opportunity to spread the 3D printing knowledge in my community;
• To have more time with family and friends;
• To keep me healthy (body and mind) and productive.

Jenny: What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student in the “real world”? What bad advice you heard should they ignore?
Mayra: The advice would be “knowledge is never too much, keep learning about everything you can” and “ignore people that try to eliminate your confidence and convince you can´t do something”.
Jenny: If you could have a giant billboard to promote a message to millions and even billions of people in our community (i.e. healthcare 3D printing and bio-fabrication), what message would that be?
Mayra: 3D printing is already changing the world, be a part of it!
Jenny: What were/was the best investment you made in 3D printing/bio-printing/bio-fabrication?
Mayra: The best AND the worst investment I made was my 3D printer. All the experience that I had to understand and dominate all process of 3D printing was really hard work! The printers are being improved more and more but the process still experimental, the good on it is that the users are part of this development. It takes our time and lots of sleep hours, but it’s worth it.
Jenny: What was/is the biggest risk you took in your career?
Mayra: I put all my energy in the last 4 years on my Ph.D. thesis and at some point, supported by my family, I decided to travel from Brazil to the US just to buy a 3D printer to avoid the risk of project cancelation. There was a huge risk of facing some problem during the importation process and, after that, there was a risk to have a printer in a place that there was no support (from producer company or other experts). I risked my project, my credibility, and my money, but I knew that was the only way for me to achieve my goals, I had to take the risk.
Jenny: What do you enjoy in your spare time? What are you passionate about outside of your work/3d printing?
Mayra: This is a classical answer but what I love most is to travel, to be with all the world’s possibilities at your feet, enjoying the new.
Jenny: What is your favorite quote? Why?
Mayra: “They did not know it was impossible, so they did it!” – Mark Twain. This quote means for me that there´s no limit for you if your mind doesn’t realize it.
Jenny: What does the word “3DHEALS” mean to you? =)
Mayra: For me, 3DHEALS means a 3D solution in healthcare

You may also like:

Additive Manufacturing Strategies Conference 2019 – Dental Overview

A Helping Hand to Those in Need—Improving the World with 3D Printing

The post Interview: Dr. Mayra Vasques, School of Dentistry at University of Sao Paulo appeared first on 3DHeals.

— How Close are We to Artificial Tissues and Organs?

May 3–5, 2017, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Often, whenever people hear the term “healthcare 3D printing”, a common response from them is, “yes, I saw that on the news, are we really printing kidneys?” Although the field of healthcare 3d printing includes a much wider range of healthcare applications using 3D printing (or additive manufacture) technologies, what 3D bioprinting can do (or not do) has been a mystery to many. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to find out myself during the first “Printing the Future of Therapeutics in 3D” conference, in Vancouver, Canada.

The conference lasts three days, and was co-hosted by Dr. Christian Naus from University of British Columbia, and CEO of Aspect Biosystems, Tamer Mohamed. The event gathered many leading scientists in the field, including MIT, Harvard, UBC, UW, among others. A few commercial representatives were also present, including Aspect Biosystems, Biobots, GSK, and of course, a few lawyers.

I had a chance to join on last day of the conference. There was no theatric display of new technologies, but plenty of in-depth scientific presentations and intimate networking and discussions. It was reassuring to see an elite line up of speakers because some questions will be answered, and if there is no answer, at least an honest “I don’t know”.

What are 3D bioprinting scientists working on?

• • Generate 3D complex disease model such as spinal neural tissues (Dr. Stephainie Willerth’s work), brain glioma model (Wun Chey Sin’s work). One can think of these as the “Rapid Prototyping” of a disease using 3D printing.

• Tissue engineering for tissue replacement, for example, musculoskeletal tissue (Dr. Grainne Cunnifee). One can think of this moving from RP to “production” level of bioprinting.

By the way, none of these is used on actual human.

What is the connection between 3D Printing and bioprinting?

– Both processes use the concept of additive manufacture, which means a digitally controlled manufacture process by adding layers of materials one on top of another to eventually create a 3D object. In the case of bioprinting, the material is often biocompatible materials laced with cellular components. Similar to regular 3D printing, bioprinting also uses common processes like FDM, or SLA. However, because the end goal of bioprinting is to produce a living piece of tissue, modifcations are needed to create the type of biocompatible structures.

– Some updates in bioprinting techniques include:

o New SLA bioprinting technique that uses visible light spectrum (rather than UV light) by Dr. Keekyoung Kim

o New microfluidics-enabled bioprinter that promises high throughput 3D bioprinting option by Dr. Axel Guenther.

o New SLA printing technology for making lab-on-a-chip by Dr. Albert Folch.

Microfluidic Art by FolchLab

How long before we can see an organ 3D printed?

Needless to say, the implication of 3D printing implantable human organs not only means millions of lives saved or improved, it also means a complete disruption of the trillion-dollar healthcare industry. Transplant or not, having a replacement tissue or organ will completely disrupt the supply chain of healthcare. The only problem is that, we are NOT there yet. FDA regulation is a foreseeable challenge to synthetic organs, but there is currently no engineered tissue used for treatment purpose in human body. Researchers and CEOs alike are reluctant in answering when we will have a true human tissue replacement. However, what is in the immediate horizon is a potentially scalable industry focusing on how to improve current therapeutic R&D pipeline with advanced technologies like bioprinting. However, even establishing value of bioprinting as a more effective disease model for pharma R&D is still in early stage, said Dr. Claire Jeong from GSK. At the end of the day, it will require a collaborative effort between academia and industry to fund, develop, and fully commercialize the technology for a scalable solution. One of the most important recent progress is the establishment of IQ Consortium, where the pharma companies provide a guideline for startups and academia for product development. It is worth a look.

Remembering how hard it was for 3DHEALS to find the bioprinting community two years ago when we just started, it is very exciting to me personally to see the community is finally taking shape. Most importantly, I saw a real bioprinter in action for the first time in my life.

The post 3D Bioprinting: Truth is Beautiful appeared first on 3DHeals.