China3D printingNet, April 30, the research team of the U.S. Air Force (UAF) has successfully used3D printingTechnology produced surgical retractors.This medical instrument was created using a benchtop3D printingThe aircraft is designed to be used in logistically challenging and hostile environments where it is impossible to supplement medical supplies using conventional methods.
It was produced as a proof of concept with the purpose of establishing a digital library of 3D documents that can be used to produce 3D medical devices. This will enable the deployed medical staff to download and produce a series of medical equipment on demand anywhere on the site.
The image of the design file of the Air Force retractor (left) and the demonstration support (right). Photo by Oxford University Press.
“air force”Surgical retractor
Surgical retractors are instruments used by field doctors to separate wounds or incision edges in order to perform operations on injured body parts or limbs.
Therefore, the design3D printingThe retractor should be used in the field. It consists of two parallel blades of different sizes. One blade is designed for narrow wounds and the other blade is designed for situations that require a wider passage. It has downwardly inclined curved blades at both ends for easy access and installation. Because of its similarity with the swept wings of a fighter jet, it has earned the nickname “Air Force Tractor”.
The device was produced using a Formlabs Form2 3D SLA printer with gray resin. The printer is versatile and usually used for prototyping. In order to obtain FDA approval, the instrument will need to be produced on a resin that can be sterilized, and Formlabs offers several photopolymer resins with potential medical applications. Dental SG Resin is a durable dental biocompatible material that has been identified as a biocompatible material with sufficient strength and durability, and the team intends to use it in future iterations.
Using the free online design tools provided by Tinkercad and Blender to create and modify the 3D files of the project, the team can produce the instrument without formal training without incurring related training costs. These programs prepare the 3D model for printing, ensure that the scale, resolution, and orientation of the model are correct, and add support during the printing process when necessary.
The research team used Blender’s free 3D modeling software to produce the prototype retractor. Filmed by Blender.
The next step in the plan is to try to patent the technology and obtain FDA approval to produce the instrument using stainless steel and radiolucent polymers.The team’s ultimate goal is to replicate the results of another study by establishing an online repository or creating locally stored files to produce other medical equipment on demand. In this study, the spinal locator was carried out in a medical institution.3D printingAnd assembly.
The research team admits that this strategy has challenges, including production time,3D printingThe portability of the printer, the size limitations of the instruments produced, and the training required to use the printer. However, they still believe that the technology can be used to supplement supplies within a few hours, and even create new products, such as prosthetics, if needed.
U.S. Air Force and3D printing
The U.S. Air Force has been continuously investing in experimental new applications of additive manufacturing technology to reduce equipment costs and lead times.
In February last year, the US Air Force awarded the Florida research team Sciperio Phase II funding for development3D printingPhased array antenna. The funds are used to develop Sciperio’s Tool Factory System (FiT) to manufacture custom-shaped antennas for U.S. Air Force drones and aircraft. The system is a multi-head manufacturing machine for manufacturing miniature phased array antennas on customized surfaces. Then install them on the drone or aircraft as part of its structure rather than as a separate system, thereby minimizing expenses.
America Makes, an Ohio-based AM accelerator company, also partnered with UAF last year to produce traditional aircraft3D printingLow-cost replacement parts. As part of the three phases of low-cost maintenance of advanced manufacturing (MAMLS), the US Department of Defense awarded America Makes $9 million in funding to monitor its completion.
Emirates also plans to participate in the upcoming Advanced Manufacturing Olympic Games later this year, competing with additive manufacturing companies, defense contractors, technology start-ups and universities for design challenges.The Air Force aims to use this event to test its3D printingThe function of the component and expand the manufacturing source of its supply chain. The event has been postponed from July 7, 2020 to the present, and is scheduled to be held on November 16, 2020.
The project’s findings were published in the journal Military Medicine, entitled “Expeditionary Medicine3D printingExample: Air Force Retractor”, which was co-authored by James A Chambers, Kenneth P Seastedt and Jocelyn Raymundo-Grinstead.
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