The use of 3D printing in medical applications shows no signs of stopping. 3D printing is being used to prototype and manufacture surgical models and medical devices, among other applications. A number of 3D printing vendors are making moves to provide for the growing demand. Stratasys Ltd., for example, has introduced the Stratasys Medical Solutions Group to advance the use of 3D printing and additive manufacturing to improve patient care, healthcare procedures, products and outcomes.

3D printing in patient care addresses a number of needs:

–improving surgical success and reducing surgical time through 3D printed models created prior to operations.

–improving surgical pre-planning processes through the use of 3D printed models.

–improving overall health care facility preparedness by using 3D printed anatomical models customized for training.

–improving patient outcome through better fit, form, function and affordability with 3D printed personalized prosthetics, bionics and orthotics.

3D printing for medical devices addresses the following:

3D printed anatomical models used for validation and verification improves preclinical device testing and evaluation.

3D printing speeds the development of end-user medical devices, often for significant cost savings.

More than 50 years of medical industry experience shape the Medical Solutions Group at Stratasys:

R. Scott Rader, PhD, general manager for Medical Solutions, leads the group. With more than 20 years in the medical product industry, he brings the experience and expertise to match clinical needs to technology approaches from the conceptual stage to the challenges of commercialization. Recently, he was selected as an associate editor for a new medical journal, 3D Printing in Medicine. Rader was an assistant professor of both ophthalmology and engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He holds a Ph.D., M.S.E. and B.S.E. in mechanical engineering and materials science from Duke University.

John Wynne, director of business development for Medical Solutions, brings more than a decade of medical expertise to Stratasys.  Prior to Stratasys, he worked at Boston Scientific, a leading medical device manufacturer, where he spent nine years in various strategy and business development roles.  Earlier in his career, he worked for Bristol-Myers Squibb, a global leader in the pharmaceutical space. John has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from Boston University.

Michael Gaisford, director of marketing for Medical Solutions, brings 12 years of medical industry expertise, having held positions in marketing, strategy and management program. Before Stratasys, he worked in marketing and program management at Boston Scientific, as a consultant at Health Advances, a strategy associate at CVS/Pharmacy and a business analyst at McKinsey & Company. He holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and a B.S. in industrial engineering from Stanford University.