Xtant Medical's subsidiary Bacterin developed a three-dimensional printer that can prototype custom, resorbable bone grafts for reconstructive procedures.
Here are five key notes:
1. Bacterin worked with the Montana State University Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering to complete the project.
2. A team of students and engineers from Montana State University partnered with Bacterin's research and development team to create the 3-D printer. Bacterin supported the projected through a grant.
3. The 3-D technology could benefit several musculoskeletal areas, including facial trauma. The current surgical approaches are limited by the amount of the patient's bone available for transplant, but 3-D printing can address these issues.
4. The 3-D printing market in healthcare is growing and customization options are attractive to patients seeking a more anatomical fit for their orthopedic procedures.
"We strongly believe that 3-D printing has a place in the creation of innovative, regenerative bio-scaffolds," said Bacterin Product Development Specialist Daniel Cox.